This comes after street protests forced the Hong Kong government to delay a controversial security bill and triggered the resignations of two senior ministers.

Mr Tung is due to meet China's President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Saturday as Hong Kong faces its biggest political crisis since its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Can Mr Tung recover, or should he listen to calls for him to resign? How can China help, and is it already looking for Mr Tung's replacement? And do the popular protests suggest the only real solution is for Hong Kong people to be given the right to choose their leaders, instead of having them chosen in Beijing?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

Tread carefully if we don't want to lose the few democratic rights we still have Oliver Robinson, Hong Kong

Mr Tung, despite being an atrocious leader, should not resign. This is because Beijing will simply insert an even more puppet-like leader, and China will be tightening the noose that is already hanging (albeit still quite loosely) around Hong Kong's neck. Secondly, declaring independence would only make matters far worse. China would not only not be able to take the loss of face of a declaration of independence, but also would not want to lose such a valuable economic asset. What would happen is that the PLA would be sent over the border to "restore order", would declare martial law and we would have another Tiananmen on our hands, do we really want that? All I can suggest to the people of Hong Kong is to tread carefully if we don't want to lose the few democratic rights we still have.
Oliver Robinson, Hong Kong

The recent events in Hong Kong prove that the so-called 'One country Two system' formula is not feasible. Beijing would not tolerate any opposition from Hong Kong. Hence they handpicked Tung, a person who lacks political sense yet is shamelessly loyal to the Communist regime. Tung does not have the courage to fight for the rights of Hong Kongers and his biggest business is to appease Beijing. This brings an enormously harmful effect to Hong Kong.
Michel Lau, Quebec, Canada

Visiting HK and China made me realise that the British had unwittingly done China a huge favour. They had created this platform from which China, already workshop of the world, and probably the true home of capitalism, can relaunch itself into the greater world. If China wastes this favour, this gift, by stifling Hong Kong, it dooms itself.
Jim Fraser, UK

We are hard-working, tax-paying citizens who deserve a democratic say in who governs us VJ, Hong Kong

Recent events have given people in Hong Kong a taste of their own power to affect the system under which they live. While it may be true that the Chinese government will respond to this demonstration with its show of strength (and perhaps threaten 'one country, two systems), that does not mean that Hong Kong should meekly toe the line and abandon its calls for democracy or its so-called "experiment with materialism and chaotic freedom". We are hard-working, tax-paying citizens who deserve a democratic say in who governs us.
VJ, Hong Kong

Living on the mainland it's sad to see how once again the CCP is keeping its people ignorant of the developments in Hong Kong. You'd have thought they would have learned after Sars. Being half-Hong Kong Chinese and knowing its people's mentality, I can only hope that the developments will escalate to free Hong Kong and show once more that Beijing's authority dates from 1949. The Hong Kong people built the place, they should not let that be taken away from them by a estranged mother.
Marcus, Shanghai, PRC

I think we have to be realistic here. CH is unpopular, with some good reason. But then so are many democratic governments around the world - in fact most of them. It would be foolish for CH to resign and it is unlikely that Beijing would accept this. He has done nothing 'wrong' (merely that he has done nothing right). What surely would be best would be for him truly to listen to the people and behave as he has not behaved up to now - pay attention, get around, be a leader instead of being paternalistic.
Brian, Hong Kong

As a Hong Konger, the changes really have given me a big surprise. I didn't believe the situation would change like today when I was one of the protesters in the 1st July rally. I just intended to express my will on that day and didn't expect the government to change. It makes me, and many protesters, believe Hong Kong will have more democracy someday. God bless Hong Kong.
Bonnie Chan, Hong Kong

This is the resolution to the crisis! Geof Acton, Australia

Some years ago, shortly after the handover of Hong Kong to the PRC, I met some charming delegates from the Chinese mainland at a symposium here in Australia. Conversation (inevitably!) turned to politics, and I commented that whilst the Communist Government apparently held the belief that they had just taken over Hong Kong, it was my belief that Hong Kong had just taken over the mainland! The Communists laughed, (politely?), but privately agreed with me! I still believe that time will prove me correct. This is the resolution to the crisis!
Geof Acton, Australia

Mr Tung is no longer respected for his job by the majority of the Hong Kong public. It's time for him to step down or listen to the people's voice rather being pressurised by China's Communist party.
John Rai, Hong kong

Democracy and freedom are only a side-issue. Chinese all over world are mostly disinterested in politics but they do care about their financial matters very much. Imagine if our economy is currently growing as it was 10 years ago then passing article 23 would be without any problems. If Tung acted wisely 6 year ago by stopping land sale and taking strong measures to lower HK's inflation than none of this would have happened. It's time for him to go!!!
Kelvin, Hong Kong

We have to fight for democracy Chan Hui Ying, Hong Kong

On 1st July, the Government deliberately occupied half of the Victoria Park and closed most of its entrances with a view of reducing the number of protesters. As a result, there were about 200 people occupied half of the Victoria Park and over half a million people stuck on streets. I, like all of other protesters, had to be packed on a street and waited under a boiling sun in a day of hot weather warning for nearly 4 hours before I could actually start the march.

For the sake of Hong Kong and the Chinese, Tung should step down. No more puppets from Beijing. The vice Chief Executive should take his post until an elected leader appears. Democratization of the political system. As a Hong Konger, I don’t want to see the abuse of human right will extend to Hong Kong. We have to fight for democracy, if we lose, there will be no hope for the mainlanders and no peace in between Mainland and Taiwan. May the world support us!
Chan Hui Ying, Hong Kong

I think it is time for Hong Kong to have full democracy. Without such, I am afraid the friction between the citizen of HK and the Government can only be higher. It may trigger to a more serious issue - fully independent. On the other hand, I don't see China should worry about it as Hong Kong is not governed by China anyway.
CYLai, England

Hong Kong's destiny is with its family on the mainland Li, UK

Hong Kong must drop this childish attitude that it is somehow 'special' and integrate with the mainland. The experiment with materialism and chaotic freedom is over. Hong Kong's destiny is with its family on the mainland, and they need to figure that out quickly.
Li, UK

Hong Kong like Taiwan is an integral part of China. It is not for outsiders to interfere in their domestic affairs. How much would the British tolerate if the Chinese tell them to leave Northern Ireland, since It is not North west England? It is up to the people of China in general and Hong Kong in particular to decide the system of government in their land. Let us keep our spoons in our own soup!
Srinivasan Toft, Denmark

The only resolution to this crisis is for the world to stand behind Hong Kong in its bid for democracy. It comes as no surprise that the people of Hong Kong do not want to live under the tyrannical dictatorship of China.
John C, New York, USA

Little Hong Kong sits perched on the edge of the South China Sea with the "motherland" always at its back. It's in a precarious position politically. We in Hong Kong know that Tung is a puppet of Beijing and that he won't be allowed to resign of his own choice. Only lip service is paid to the "one country two systems" concept. Unfortunately all these recent events will lead to Beijing taking more control here. We want democracy but China will never allow it - the government is too afraid the democracy "demon" might spread to the mainland. I fear a crackdown, albeit it a mild one.
Ajana, Hong Kong

China has a chance to show the world it can modernise its political system Jeff Pardun, USA

Mr Tung should resign under pressure from the people and China should allow Hong Kong to choose its own leader. If China treats Hong Kong with a silver hand instead of an iron fist they may find Taiwan more interested in one China two systems. The harder China goes on Hong Kong the more resistance they will see toward reunification in Taiwan. China has a chance to show the world it can modernise its political system.
Jeff Pardun, USA

Even if Tung resigned, the new leader would be chosen by Beijing. He or she would follow tightly the policy set by the Beijing government. The voice of Hong Kong's people would continue to be ignored. So the only solution is to allow Hong Kong people to choose their leader through popular elections instead of the current system where only several hundred representatives appointed by Beijing have the right to vote.
DL, England (from Hong Kong)

I visited Hong Kong a few years before the handover and was hugely impressed with the vibrancy, beauty and uniqueness of that fabled city. I hope that the HK citizens' basic freedoms aren't diluted or undermined, but it's hard to believe that China will allow HK to become any more than a possession, with all the curtailments and stifling that suggests. It's a shame that an economic powerhouse such as HK is allowed to wither on the vine.
Chris, US

Mr Tung should resign. He has done nothing good to HK people since his appointment. HK people should have the right to elect their own Chief Executive, who listens to and responds to the people's wishes.
Adelina, Canada/Hong Kong

In order for Hong Kong to fully be democratised, the territory must declare independence from China, thus setting up its very own government and allowing its people to vote for their leaders in a democratic manner. A city state similar to Singapore is needed for Hong Kong.
Andrew Howd, Canada