In an apparent snub to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, the elected legislature has failed to approve the traditional vote of thanks for the policy address he gave last month.

Some councillors criticised Mr Tung for failing to address concerns about the recession caused by the Asian economic crisis.

Correspondents say the only other time a vote of thanks was defeated in Hong Kong was after the last policy address of the outgoing British governor, Chris Patten, in 1996.