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Freedom tops new HK leader's priorities
Sydney Morning Herald - March 26, 2012
Mr Leung, widely seen as Beijing's preferred choice, offered two deep bows on stage as the result was announced.
"I promise that all the freedom enjoyed by Hong Kong people won't change," Mr Leung said yesterday. "We need to defend our core values and to work aggressively to solve many problems." Advertisement: Story continues below
Campaigning has been marred by demonstrations by protesters angry at not being able to vote and the level of control exerted by Beijing.
Hong Kong's 7 million people have no direct say in their election. Only those on Hong Kong's 1193-strong election committee, largely made up of tycoons and business elite, are allowed to vote. Candidates must also be approved by Beijing before being allowed on the ballot.
But Beijing is understood to prefer to back a candidate who has a strong level of public support. Initially considered the underdog, Mr Leung, who received 689 of the 1132 valid votes cast, benefited from a string of salacious scandals to engulf early frontrunner and long-time politician Henry Tang.
Mr Tang finished with 285 votes. A third candidate, the pro-democracy Albert Ho, received 76 votes.
Revelations of Mr Tang's marital infidelity, and that he had illegally built a sprawling basement under his family villa without lodging the required taxes, dominated headlines in the robust Hong Kong media and saw China's support shift towards Mr Leung.
Last week Liu Yandong, China's highest-ranking female official, flew to Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, to drum up support for Mr Leung.
Yet his links to China, including allegations that he has ties to organised crime and is a covert Communist Party member – both vehemently denied by Mr Leung – had seen his popularity dip in the latest public polling before the election.
Underlining the frustration with the candidates, a mock election held by the University of Hong Kong saw a turnout of 200,000 people, with more than half saying they would not vote for any of the three chief executive candidates.
This year's election has been seen as a dress rehearsal for a direct election, with Beijing promising universal suffrage for Hong Kong in 2017. Mr Leung yesterday said he would seek re-election under universal suffrage.
Mr Leung will take over from the outgoing Donald Tsang on July 1.
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