Hong Kong: Hong Kong settled down to the post-Tung era yesterday still fearful about what the future holds in terms of more democracy for the territory under the administration of interim chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
Mr Tsang, a Harvard-educated devout Catholic with long experience in public service in Hong Kong, is generally seen as a safe pair of hands and is popular.
Just days into his new job, it looked like business as usual as he arrived for work at government offices wearing one of his trademark bow-ties.
But he has had to face up to strongly voiced fears that the central government was trying to tighten its grip on Hong Kong by getting rid of former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.
And legal experts and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are worried that the chief executive elected on July 10th will serve just two years instead of the five laid down in Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.
They fear it could harm the territory's cherished autonomy.
Mr Tsang tried to allay fears about the electoral process, saying he would try to ensure that elections for Hong Kong's next leader would be open and fair.
He insisted his administration was committed to constitutional reform and would run "an excellent election of a chief executive fairly, openly, honestly for the whole world to see.
"There is no question of going back. The next stage will be more democratic than it is now," he said.
Mr Tsang dismissed speculation among international observers that Beijing had pushed Mr Tung out to make way for a more effective leader. "There is absolutely no conspiracy in this," he said.
The next chief executive will be chosen by Hong Kong's 800-member election committee, which has a widely pro-Beijing slant. The limited scale of representation has prompted calls for direct elections. Mr Tsang acknowledged the central role that Beijing would play in the territory's future.
"We must be looking to the Hong Kong people as the people we serve, but we must look at the [Chinese government] as our sovereign master," he said.
Earlier this week, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao called for unity in Hong Kong and said Beijing would respect the terms of the Basic Law. "I believe Hong Kong people are capable of running Hong Kong well," he said.
However, some commentators were not convinced. "It is now generally assumed that the central government has given its blessing to Mr Tsang and that he will be chosen as the next chief executive in July.
"And that the term of office will be for two years, contrary to the clear wording of the Basic Law of a five-year term," wrote Hong Kong political columnist Frank Ching in the South China Morning Post.
"So now, while the Basic Law still says five years, it really means two years. Five is two. Black is white. George Orwell would feel right at home in the Hong Kong of 2005," wrote Ching.
Mr Tsang has been chief secretary since 2001. His career was widely thought to be in danger because of his close links with the British administration, which earned him a knighthood in 1997, but he has proved a deft politician who has earned the trust of Beijing.
Mr Tung was chief executive since power in Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 and was widely considered an ineffectual leader, although some have argued that his scope for action was limited by Beijing.
Mr Tung stepped down last week, and his resignation was accepted at China's annual parliament, the National People's Congress, at the weekend.
He was given a seat on China's top advisory body in recognition of his services.
"What is needed is greater transparency. What we are getting is less transparency. If Orwell is right Hong Kong still has some way to go," said Ching.