Hong Kong leadership candidates launched a final push for votes yesterday, on the eve of the hardest-fought election since the city’s handover from British rule in 1997.
Former property consultant Leung Chun-ying (梁振英) is tipped to win a majority of votes in the electoral college when the 1,200 mainly pro-Beijing delegates meet to choose the regional financial center’s new chief executive today.
The 57-year-old son of a policeman had secured between 563 and 643 votes as of Friday, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported, after the biggest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said they would support him as the city’s new leader.
His main rival, former businessman Henry Tang (唐英年), dismissed reports that he was considering bowing out of the race.
“I will use the rest of my time to continue canvassing for votes,” Tang told a news conference, flanked by his wife and sons, while conceding that he is facing an “uphill battle.”
“When I announced my candidacy, I had every expectation that it would be a long and treacherous campaign. Indeed it has been,” the 59-year-old heir of a textile fortune said.
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control from British rule in 1997, with a semi-autonomous status that guarantees broad social freedoms under limited democracy.
Outgoing Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) and his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), the city’s first post-handover leader, were elected virtually unopposed after receiving the open backing of Beijing.
However, this year’s vote has divided the semi-autonomous territory’s establishment and challenged Beijing’s carefully balanced model of governance in partnership with the city’s business elite.
Tang was seen as a shoo-in for the job when he launched his campaign with the backing of tycoons such as Asia’s richest man, Li Ka-shing (李嘉誠).
However, a series of scandals involving his personal life, including the discovery of an illegal entertainment suite at his luxury home, saw his approval ratings plunge and reportedly prompted Beijing to shift support to Leung.
Leung is also an establishment figure, but lacks Tang’s insider status with the city’s business community. He refused to comment on his chances when asked by the local media yesterday.
The election has been complicated by the behind-the-scenes machinations of China’s own once-in-a-decade leadership struggle, with various factions seeking to flex their muscles ahead of the transition later this year.
Meanwhile, a university Web site that allows Hong Kong residents a chance to vote for their next leader in a mock election was up and running again yesterday after it came under attack by unidentified hackers on Friday.
More than 126,000 people have cast their vote in what has been billed as a civil referendum as of yesterday afternoon, according to public broadcaster RTHK.
Results of the unofficial election were scheduled to be announced late yesterday.
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