HK Chief Executive not to seek re-election

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.[Photo/Xinhua]

Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying announced on Friday that he will not seek re-election for Hong Kong's top job next spring.

Leung said he made the decision not to run for a second term as cheif executive in the March 2017 election for family reasons.

He said he has to focus on his responsibility as a husband and a father.

Leung said his political career had impacted his family members and he was reluctant to put his family under pressure by seeking re-election.

"I must protect them," he told reporters at a press briefing Friday afternoon.

He thanked all his supporters and vowed to carry on the government's work with dedication until the end of his term on June 30.

In a statement that followed, Beijing's top Hong Kong affairs authority, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, expressed its deep regret but respected his decision.

A spokesperson said the office recognized Leung's work as the chief executive of the special administrative region and his firm implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and the Basic Law.

The spokesman also spoke highly of Leung's efforts in improving Hong Kong's economy and people's livelihoods, hoping that Leung would continue his good work for the rest of his term and continue to play a role in the development of both Hong Kong and the country in the future.