Harry Tong

{{Short description|I-Kiribati politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

Dr. Harry Tong[http://www.parliament.gov.ki/content/find-member-parliament List of members of Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327012104/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/content/find-member-parliament |date=27 March 2012 }}, Parliament of Kiribati ({{zh|s=汤哈利|t=湯哈利|p=Tāng Hālì}}), 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.[http://www.parliament.gov.ki/historical.htm "Historical Information on Members of the Parliament of Kiribati"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101122118/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/historical.htm |date=1 November 2007 }}, website of the Parliament of Kiribati[http://www.parliament.gov.ki/members.html "Members of the Parliament of Kiribati"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101033752/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/members.html |date=1 November 2007 }}, website of the Parliament of Kiribati Again, however, he resigned before the end of the latter term.[http://www.parliament.gov.ki/content/members-ninth-parliament-2007-2011 "Members of the Ninth Parliament (2007 - 2011)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002233345/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/content/members-ninth-parliament-2007-2011 |date=2 October 2011 }}, Parliament of Kiribati

He stood for president in the 1998 election, lost to the incumbent, Teburoro Tito,[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1836.htm "Background Note: Kiribati"], US Department of State, May 2009 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38 |title=Harry Tong dumped as opposition and party leader |date=7 January 2003 |work=Radio New Zealand International |access-date=2 October 2011}} 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.[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,FREEHOU,,KIR,45b632e02,473c549d23,0.html "Freedom in the World - Kiribati (2004)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008133924/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country%2C%2CFREEHOU%2C%2CKIR%2C45b632e02%2C473c549d23%2C0.html |date=8 October 2012 }}, UNHCR 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.[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,FREEHOU,,KIR,45b632e02,473c549d23,0.html "Freedom in the World - Kiribati (2004)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008133924/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country%2C%2CFREEHOU%2C%2CKIR%2C45b632e02%2C473c549d23%2C0.html |date=8 October 2012 }}, UNHCR[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3046980.stm "Family saga sours in Pacific poll"], BBC, 5 July 2003 The campaign was contentious, with Anote accusing Harry of "womanising".{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/475291 |title=No rain on welcome parade for Kiribati President |date=5 June 2008 |work=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=2 October 2011}}

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.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2039236.htm "Nominations prompt call for Kiribati poll boycott"], ABC Radio Australia, 21 September 2007[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=17664/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl "Politics/ Kiribati: TONG LOOKS GOOD FOR ANOTHER TERM"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326011541/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=17664/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl |date=26 March 2009 }}, Islands Business Anote Tong was re-elected.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2063370.htm "Tong re-elected Kiribati president"], ABC Radio Australia, 18 October 2007

Unlike his younger brother Anote, 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".{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10539367 |title=An ailing island in the sun |author=Nadkarni, Dev |date=25 October 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2 October 2011}}

As of June 2009, Tong was the leader of the National Progressive Party.[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kiribati/ "Kiribati"], CIA World Factbook He was a "key Opposition MP" in the Ninth Parliament.[http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Pacific/Kiribati.php "Kiribati"], New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs He was resigned from parliament in January 2010 to resume his medical career.