Gloomy HK marks 5th year under China

Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa was sworn in for a second term on Monday as protesters marked the fifth anniversary of the city’s return...

Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa was sworn in for a second term on Monday as protesters marked the fifth anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule by blasting his government over the ailing economy and human rights.

As storm clouds gathered outside, Tung and 14 ministers he handpicked to run the government took their oaths in Hong Kong’s futuristic convention centre before Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who flew in for the anniversary ceremony. With protesters kept well out of earshot outside, Tung saidin a sombre speech after his swearing-in that solving the city’s economic problems will be ‘‘long and arduous’’.

‘‘Worries are weighing on the hearts of Hong Kong people…the biggest challenge facing the second term government is to lead Hong Kong out of the economic downturn and to restore the confidence of Hong Kong people,’’ he said. Unpopular with Hong Kong residents, Beijing-backed leader pledged to do everything necessary to create jobs but gave few concrete details of plans to ease the economic pain.

Celebrations marking the anniversary were modest and low-key, reflecting the gloom pervading the tiny territory of 6.7 million people on China’s southern coast. The once proud former British colony is facing a crisis of confidence after being mauled by two recessions in four years.

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