Tung on Sunday was among 10 Hong Kong officials nominated to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - the top advisory body to the central government leadership.

According to sources in Beijing, Tung was also nominated as vice-chairman of the CPPCC. If elected and he accepts the post, he will be one of 25 vice-chairmen. This, they say, could strengthen his position in his final two years in office - or it could be a face-saving way for the embattled leader to step down if the governance crisis escalates. Beijing sources say Tung offered to resign following the July 2003 protest march, but this was rejected by mainland leaders.

After his formal election later this week, Tung is widely expected to be named as one of the CPPCC's vice-chairman.

A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office declined to comment, saying it has not received a nomination list on the new CPPCC members.

According to a CPPCC Standing Committee source in Beijing, the appointment ``is a reward for his contribution to the motherland over the past eight years, but no one should rule out the possibility that he may leave as chief executive.''

Tung was scheduled to arrive in the capital Friday, but because of his expected appointment as vice-chairman of the CPPCC the trip will be brought forward to Wednesday so he can attend the opening ceremony of the CPPCC plenary.

CPPCC Standing Committee member Chan Wing-kee, chief executive of Asia Television, said Tung's nomination as vice-chairman was to ``enhance communication between the central government and Hong Kong on common issues like closer economic ties.''

In Hong Kong, pro-Beijing politicians viewed the nomination as a sign the central government attaches great importance to Hong Kong.

``If Mr Tung is to become a CPPCC vice-chairman, [it] actually [means] he is promoted to the rank of a state leader. [This means] he will have [greater] bargaining power on many issues [with] the central leadership,'' said Jasper Tsang, former chairman and a lawmaker with the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB).

``As the chief executive, Mr Tung is a suitable person to become a CPPCC vice-chairman. It reflects how the central government regards him and the SAR government. This move will not only be a token of appreciation by Beijing to Mr Tung, but to the whole SAR government,'' he said.

Fellow DAB lawmaker Tam Yiu-chung agreed, saying the appointment will enable Tung to push for many joint initiatives with mainland provinces.

He rejected suggestions the nominal promotion is to pave the way for the removal of Tung as the chief executive. ``So far I don't see any signs that Mr Tung will be removed. In fact, with this promotion, he will have a great deal of opportunities to communicate with different state leaders. It will help him push for joint initiatives,'' Tam said.

Local National People's Congress deputy Lau Pui-king said the appointment would give Tung more influence in fighting for Hong Kong interests.

``It means that now Tung has a high-ranking political status in the mainland. It will make life easier for Tung when he liaises with the mainland or the central government,'' she said.

However, the Democratic Party's Albert Ho said the appointment would not help Tung restore plummeting public confidence in the SAR government.

``If Beijing thinks that it can help Tung resolve his governance crisis by giving him a title, I don't think it will work. It is better for him to listen to public opinion and improve his governance,'' he said.

Veteran leftist and former CPPCC Standing Committee member Xu Simin said he was disappointed with the appointment. ``It would do no good to Hong Kong or the mainland. Why? I have explained it many times. According to his track record, can he [Tung] really respect public opinion? The answer is no,'' he said.

In December, President Hu Jintao gave Tung and his principal officials a public dressing-down, telling them to examine past inadequacies, raise the levels of their competence and improve governance. Hu's remarks, made during celebrations of the fifth anniversary of the Macau handover, stood in stark contrast to his praise for that territory's chief executive Edmund Ho.

Over the past two years, Beijing appears to have lost confidence in Tung, with the public staging several mass demonstrations against his administration.

Others have speculated that Tung may use an excuse of poor health as a face-saving way to leave office. In the past month, he has complained to friends that he has not felt well.

Unusually for a man who has prided himself on his long work days, Tung had to cancel a series of engagements this month because of what his office said was a case of influenza.

Under the terms of Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, the chief executive can step down or be replaced if he or she loses the ability to discharge his duties as a result of serious illness or other reasons.

If Tung does leave ahead of schedule, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang would become the acting chief executive. A new chief executive would then be selected by the 800-member Election Committee within six months in accordance with the provisions of Article 45 of the Basic Law, which states that the chief executive of the SAR shall be selected by the Election Committee and be appointed by the central government. Under this scenario, the new chief executive will start a five-year-term, thereby allowing the government to sidestep any changes to the method of selection for the chief executive in 2007.

carrie.chan2@singtaonewscorp.com

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