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By the closing date of candidate nomination for the by-election of chief executive for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Donald Tsang was automatically elected with an overwhelming superiority, bringing the election to an end ahead of schedule.

The by-election was deemed as being smooth and successful. Everything went on according to the electoral law in an open, fair and just way. Since it was an election contest, so it involved competition, another two persons running for election also exerted themselves for a nominating vote. Donald Tsang distinguished himself by his remarkable administrative achievements. This time he made continuous visits to local residents, listened to the heartfelt wishes of various social circles, revealing that he was doing his very best. Especially his administrative idea, which is in conformity with Hong Kong's reality, won wide-ranging recognition and finally was standing high in popular favor.

Tsang's automatic election reflects Hong Kong's social condition and popular feeling. Hong Kong's superiority lies in the fact that it is an economically developed metropolis. The region's strong administrative leadership has always been the powerful engine for Hong Kong's prosperity. Earlier, the endless political strife resulted in some internal frictions, which weakened the efficiency of administration. Having gone through various disturbances, Hong Kong is now faced with numerous and complicated matters and the people there are longing for stability. The general run of citizens are weary of some politicians who are bent on engaging in political strife, they express the hope that the HKSAR government can display its strong administrative leadership, give priority to its economic development and advance its political restructuring in an orderly and step-by-step way.

In the administrative program for his election campaign, Tsang made improvement of the region's economy and people's livelihood, the building of a harmonious society and enhancement of his governing capability as the focus of his future administration. Efforts are being made to achieve the goal of "building a strong government and exercising strict administration, establishing a harmonious society and bringing well-being for the people". These three points precisely represent Hong Kong's mainstream popular will and dovetail with the thinking of the majority of the locals, it is, indeed, in complete consonance.

As a matter of fact, governing Hong Kong is a complicated project. A pluralistic Hong Kong society requires balancing the interests of different groups of people, to avoid the emergence of "falling in with the feeling of the elder brother but going against the wishes of the wife of the elder brother"; Hong Kong's economy is faced with both opportunities and challenges, the surrounding objective commercial environment is undergoing profound changes.

After some traditional roles and functions of Hong Kong are replaced, the question of how to lift the economic structure out of the "middle-aged crisis" requires a long-term plan. "Free trade" and CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Agreement) alone are not enough to ensure long-term economic prosperity, the more important thing is to establish a new core competitiveness for Hong Kong's local economy, build new pillar industries of Hong Kong, all these are urgently placed before the Hong Kong people.

While replying citizens' questions, Tsang was good at grasping Hong Kong's core value, had a clear administrative idea and was filled with confidence when encountering challenge. He cherishes a "Hong Kong dream", determined to turn Hong Kong into "a city of opportunity", a "township of pleasure". To realize this heart-stirring wish, it is still necessary to carry forward the Hong Kong spirit that has once created miracles.

Hong Kong is filled with opportunities everywhere, but it has to rely on a combat spirit for success. When it is certain about something, it has to march forward courageously, even if it is faced with a biting wind or cold rain pouring down on its head, it should not easily give up. People hope that Tsang, indomitable as he is, could lead Hong Kong people forward tenaciously to push Hong Kong's construction forward to a new stage and bring "Hong Kong's dream" into reality at an early date.

There is a parlance: Future Hong Kong needs a leading strategist rather than a technocrat. This remark carries the weight of encouragement. When he entered his name for the election, Tsang filled up the blank "Occupation" with the word "statesman", he himself considered the matter time and again. He said the English term "politician" can hardly have an accurate equivalent word in the Chinese language. "Politician" carries a derogatory sense, but "statesman" is too big a word, while "political figure" cannot convey the meaning of his future post as full-time government official. When filling in the form, he chose the term "statesman" indicating that he cherishes a lofty ideal.

Government officials, senior and junior, should coordinate and help each other. The essay "On Salt and Iron" by Huan Kuan of Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24) says: "officials governing major things cannot be tired of trivial things, because that would entail disorder; officials taking on minor duty cannot be lazy, laziness would lead to ruin." Hong Kong citizens hope that he would advance from a traditional official in charge of government affairs to a statesman who is mindful of the general situation, stands high and gazes far, understands China and is familiar with Hong Kong, and that he is a determined key figure, carries out intensified administration, leads Hong Kong in breaking through the predicament featuring internal friction and contention and recreate Hong Kong's economic glory.

Editor: Yan