>>>Click into related special: HKCE By-election

Donald Tsang has won the chief executive (CE) by-election, and now needs only central government approval to become Hong Kong's new leader.

 Hong Kong's new leader Donald Tsang speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong June 16. [newsphoto] 

Exactly an hour after returning officer and High Court judge Carlye Chu declared him elected yesterday, Tsang renewed his pledge to bring social harmony to the SAR and promised to stay close to the community.

"The election has been an exhilarating experience for me. I treasure it dearly," the CE-elect said in his victory statement.

"The dialogue we have started with various sectors of the community will not be a one-off exercise. It is my pledge that I will continue to keep this very meaningful interchange going in the months and years ahead," Tsang said. The CE-elect urged Hongkongers to "unite with one heart and one mind". "Let us restore social harmony and let us work together for a better future for Hong Kong."

Nominations for the CE post closed at 5 pm yesterday. At exactly 5:30 pm, Justice Chu announced that Tsang was the only validly nominated candidate. "I hereby declare Mr Donald Tsang is returned and elected at the 2005 Chief Executive Election." Chu had received nomination papers from six individuals, five of them were ruled invalid.

 
Donald Tsang kisses his wife after claiming victory for the chief executive post during a news conference in HK June 16. [newsphoto]

Declaring the election result "lawful and valid", Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) Chairman Woo Kwok-hing said the election had conformed to all legal requirements, including the Basic Law and Chief Executive Election Ordinance.

Acting CE Henry Tang was pleased that the new CE had been returned "smoothly, on schedule and in an open and fair manner", and said all sectors of the community had participated actively in the election.

"I will report to the State Council that the election has been completed in accordance with the Basic Law so that the central government can deal with the appointment of the new CE according to the Basic Law," Tang said. All principal officials and civil servants would continue to put in their best as they prepare for Tsang to take office, he said.

Tsang was born in 1944, and has been part of the government for 38 years. After the State Council accepted Tung Chee-hwa's resignation as CE in March, Tsang - as the chief secretary for administration (CS) - stood in as acting CE. He quit as CS two weeks ago to contest the CE by poll.

Governance, social harmony and economy are the three major areas that Tsang will give priority to after taking office.

Most of the people he met during his election campaign agreed with his three priorities.

Editor: Yan