Harry Tong
Encyclopedia
Dr. Harry Tong is an I-Kiribati
politician
with Chinese
heritage.
He was first elected to the House of Assembly of Kiribati
in 1983, representing the constituency of South Tarawa
, the country's capital. He was re-elected in 1987, but resigned from Parliament in 1989, before the end of his term. He returned to Parliament in the 1998 election, and was re-elected
in 2003 and in 2007
, still representing South Tarawa. Again, however, he resigned before the end of the latter term.
He stood for President in the 1998 election, lost to the incumbent, Teburoro Tito
, and became Leader of the Opposition
. He was not able to take part in the February 2003 Presidential election, as his party selected Taberannang Timeon to stand in his place. Tito was re-elected. Shortly thereafter, Tong questioned President Tito about the lease deal which enabled the People's Republic of China
to maintain a satellite-tracking facility on Tarawa. (See: Sino-Pacific relations
.) Tong emphasised that Chinese ambassador Ma Shuxue had admitted having donated €2,000 to a "cooperative society linked to Tito". The resulting controversy brought down the President's newly elected government through a vote of no confidence in Parliament. Tong stood in the ensuing July 2003 Presidential election
, representing the Protect the Maneaba
party, but came second to his younger brother Anote Tong
, of the Pillars of Truth
party. The brothers received 43.5 and 47.4% of the vote respectively - 12,457 votes to 13,556. The campaign was contentious, with Anote accusing Harry of "womanising".
The 2007 Presidential election
was controversial. Candidates for the presidency are selected by Parliament, and Harry Tong did not receive parliamentary nomination; nor did any member of the Protect the Maneaba party, despite it being the main opposition party. Anote Tong was re-elected.
Unlike his brother, who as President has emphasised the need to adapt to climate change, and who has warned that Kiribati may disappear beneath the seas altogether, Harry Tong has stated that the ocean will never rise to a critical level in Kiribati, citing his religious beliefs: "God promised Noah there would not be another flood after the last one".
As of June 2009, Harry Tong was the leader of the National Progressive Party
. He was a "key Opposition MP" in the Ninth Parliament
.
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
with Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
heritage.
He was first elected to the House of Assembly of Kiribati
House of Assembly of Kiribati
The House of Assembly of Kiribati has 46 members, 44 elected for a four year term in single-seat and multi-seat constituencies, 1 delegate from Banaba Island and 1 ex-officio member .Created with the Constitution of 12 July 1979, its new seat is at Ambo since October 2000, on South Tarawa...
in 1983, representing the constituency of South Tarawa
South Tarawa
South Tarawa is the official capital of the Republic of Kiribati on Tarawa Atoll. The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll...
, the country's capital. He was re-elected in 1987, but resigned from Parliament in 1989, before the end of his term. He returned to Parliament in the 1998 election, and was re-elected
Kiribatian parliamentary election, 2003
Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on 9 and 16 May 2003. Protect the Maneaba won 24 of the 42 seats, gaining a 6-seat majority.-Results:...
in 2003 and in 2007
Kiribatian parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election took place in Kiribati on 22 August 2007 and 30 August 2007, within 23 constituencies to elect 44 MPs . Two other MPs are ex officio members ....
, still representing South Tarawa. Again, however, he resigned before the end of the latter term.
He stood for President in the 1998 election, lost to the incumbent, Teburoro Tito
Teburoro Tito
Teburoro Tito was the President and foreign minister of Kiribati from October 1, 1994 to March 28, 2003. He was elected for the first time in 1994. He was reelected in 1998 with 52% of the vote. His main opponent was Harry Tong, who later ran against his brother, current President Anote Tong...
, and became Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
. He was not able to take part in the February 2003 Presidential election, as his party selected Taberannang Timeon to stand in his place. Tito was re-elected. Shortly thereafter, Tong questioned President Tito about the lease deal which enabled the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
to maintain a satellite-tracking facility on Tarawa. (See: Sino-Pacific relations
Sino-Pacific relations
Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China , a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. The One China Policy dictates that no state can diplomatically recognize the sovereignty of both the PRC and the ROC. As of 2009, eight states in Oceania recognise the PRC, and...
.) Tong emphasised that Chinese ambassador Ma Shuxue had admitted having donated €2,000 to a "cooperative society linked to Tito". The resulting controversy brought down the President's newly elected government through a vote of no confidence in Parliament. Tong stood in the ensuing July 2003 Presidential election
Kiribatian presidential election, July 2003
Presidential elections were held in Kiribati on 4 July 2003, the second in six months after previous President, Teburoro Tito, had been deposed by a motion of no confidence in the Parliament just a month after winning the February election....
, representing the Protect the Maneaba
Protect the Maneaba
Protect the Maneaba is a political party in Kiribati created by the merger of the National Progressive Party and the Christian Democratic Party....
party, but came second to his younger brother Anote Tong
Anote Tong
Anote Tong is an I-Kiribati politician with Chinese heritage. He is the current President of Kiribati. He won the election in July 2003 with a slim plurality of votes cast against his brother, Dr. Harry Tong and the private lawyer Banuera Berina...
, of the Pillars of Truth
Pillars of Truth
Pillars of Truth is a political party in Kiribati.The party was created through a split in the National Progressive Party, which was the first party to rule after Independence in 1979....
party. The brothers received 43.5 and 47.4% of the vote respectively - 12,457 votes to 13,556. The campaign was contentious, with Anote accusing Harry of "womanising".
The 2007 Presidential election
Kiribatian presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held in Kiribati on 17 October 2007, following the 2007 parliamentary election. President Anote Tong, who was re-elected to parliament in the first round of the parliamentary election, sought another term as president...
was controversial. Candidates for the presidency are selected by Parliament, and Harry Tong did not receive parliamentary nomination; nor did any member of the Protect the Maneaba party, despite it being the main opposition party. Anote Tong was re-elected.
Unlike his brother, who as President has emphasised the need to adapt to climate change, and who has warned that Kiribati may disappear beneath the seas altogether, Harry Tong has stated that the ocean will never rise to a critical level in Kiribati, citing his religious beliefs: "God promised Noah there would not be another flood after the last one".
As of June 2009, Harry Tong was the leader of the National Progressive Party
National Progressive Party (Kiribati)
The National Progressive Party is a political party in Kiribati without parliamentary representation. Its leader Harry Tong joined the Maneaban Te Mauri before the 2003 elections....
. He was a "key Opposition MP" in the Ninth Parliament
9th Parliament of Kiribati
The 9th Parliament of Kiribati is the current term of the House of Assembly of Kiribati. It was determined by the 2007 parliamentary election.The 9th Parliament consists in 44 representatives, elected from 23 single-seat or multi-seat constituencies....
.