Hong Kong chief secretary said to quit

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- The top civil servant is reportedly resigning after years of frosty relations with leaders in China and the territory.

News of Chief Secretary Anson Chan's possible departure just 18 months before her scheduled retirement made headlines in the territory's media.

An official statement announcing Chan's departure is expected to be made soon. When asked about reports that she was resigning, her press secretary did not deny them.

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Chan, 61, joined the civil service as Hong Kong's first female administrative officer in 1962. In 1993, she became the territory's first local and female chief secretary under the territory's last British colonial governor, Chris Patten.

Chan, who is also the head of Hong Kong's 180,000-strong civil servants, kept her post when Tung Chee-hwa took over as chief executive of the Special Administrative Region after Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.

While Chan is popular in the territory, she is not as well received by Chinese officials, who view her good working relationship with Patten in an unfavorable light.

In September, Chinese leaders told Chan to give more support to Tung, whose popularity was suffering.

A member of the opposition Democratic Party told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper that Chan's departure would affect the government's credibility.

"The popularity of the chief executive is very low, and Mrs. Chan is the most popular civil servant with the people of Hong Kong. They have confidence in the civil service because of her," Yeung Sum told the newspaper.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Donald Tsang, has been tipped to replace her.

Chan is expected to stay on for a few months to help with the transition.