Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa on Wednesday flew to Beijing to meet other Chinese leaders, leaving the territory's government gripped by uncertainty over the timing of his resignation and the identity of his successor.

Mr Tung's office refused to comment on his plans to step down, revealed in the Financial Times on Tuesday, despite similar reports in local media on Wednesday. Mr Tung said in Beijing that he would issue astatement “at an appropriate time”.