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Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Embattled Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, whose unpopular leadership spawned massive pro-democracy demonstrations, has resigned for personal reasons, local newspapers reported on Wednesday. The reports come just weeks after Tung was publicly reprimanded by Chinese President Hu Jintao for his poor performance over the past seven years. Asked to confirm if Tung had stepped down, a government spokesman said: "We don't comment on speculative reports". Citing unidentified sources, most reports said Tung's right hand man, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, would be made acting chief executive after Tung's departure. Tung, a businessman with little political experience,...

Hongkong leader Donald Tsang said in aninterview today he would maintain his chief executive's privileges when he runs for re-election, citing Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan as precedents. Tsang has been criticised for using his official car to visit his campaign office and for delaying the official announcement of his bid for a second term as chief executive until tomorrow. Responding to the criticisms, Tsang said in an interview with the South China Morning Post he had been advised that it could "amount to a dereliction of duty" if he left the chief executive post vacant for long to stand...