Hong Kong's unpopular leader Leung Chun-ying said today that he would not run again for office and would step down at the end of his term in July, citing family reasons.
Leung said that he was taking the decision out of "responsibility as a father and a husband" and that it was not to do with his performance as leader.
Seen by critics as a puppet of Beijing, he is vilified by the semi-autonomous city's pro-democracy camp.
Leung said China's central authorities have been "very supportive" of his work over the years.
Speculation has intensified in recent weeks over who will get the nod from Beijing to run for the leadership in March.
Reports in local media have said that Leung's daughter has been in hospital for more than a month, although the reasons are unclear.
Leung said he did not want to give further details of his family situation.
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