Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang Yam Kuen waves hands in Hong Kong, south China, March 25, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)
 
Incumbent Donald Tsang Yam Kuen won more than 80 percent of the ballots in the election of the third-term chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday, according to Returning Officer Justice Barnabas Fung Wah.

At about 11:50 a.m., Fung announced that of the 772 valid votes cast by members of the Election Committee, Tsang and Alan Leong, Tsang's only contender, won 649 and 123, respectively. He declared that Tsang had won victory in the election.

The whole process was under the supervision of the Electoral Affairs Commission, scrutineers of the election candidates, the mass public and the public media.

"The process of the voting and ballot counting was smooth, and all arrangements were in line with election laws and regulations," said Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Pang Kin-kee. "The election was fair, open and honest."

According to the Basic Law, the HKSAR chief executive is elected by the broadly representative Election Committee and then appointed by the Central People's Government.

After the appointment of the Central People's Government, the elected will become the third-term chief executive of the HKSAR, with his term of office starting on July 1, 2007 and ending on June 30, 2012.

Fung's announcement of Tsang's victory met with warm applause from those present at the polling center. With tears in his eyes, Tsang bowed to the audience, received a bouquet of flowers from his supporters and embraced his wife.

At a press conference soon after the announcement, Tsang said that the next-term HKSAR government under his leadership will be a broadly representative one that will balance the interests of various sectors of the society, pledging to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.

"We shall do our utmost to push economic development and establish Hong Kong as No. 1 international financial center in the region," he said.

He said that the election is a major step in Hong Kong's constitutional development within the framework of the Basic Law, and a success of the "one country, two systems" principle, vowing to take concrete efforts to work towards the goal of constitutional development.

Voting of the election began at 9 a.m. Sunday at Hall Two of the Asia World-Expo on Lantou Island in Hong Kong, with 789 members of the 795-member Election Committee casting their secret ballots (the Election Committee should have 800 members from different sectors. But four members each is representing two sectors and one member has passed away).

"The result of the election meets people's exceptions, indicating Tsang's good governance of Hong Kong over the past 18 months had been endorsed by most of the Election Committee members," said Tsang Hin-chi, a member of the Election Committee and also a member of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress.

"The election result reflects the mainstream will of the people, that is, Hong Kong must develop forward in a stable manner," said Ma Lik, also a member of the Election Committee and chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.

"The election was permeated with a warm atmosphere, and Tsang's overwhelming victory will help him in his governance in the next five years," said Ivan Choy, senior instructor of the Government and Political Administration Department under the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Tsang threw himself into the election campaign on Feb. 1, 2007, with the slogan "I'll get the job done!" which soon became the most frequently quoted phrase in Hong Kong.

In his election platform, Tsang promised to fully leverage the advantages of "one country, two systems" to push forward economic development, promote democratic process, consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international metropolis and establish Hong Kong as the country's international financial center.

"I will lead the government, a government that will become a force for political progress in Hong Kong, a government that will bring Hong Kong into a new era and establish Hong Kong as a dynamic, multicultural and vibrant metropolis," he said in the platform.

On Feb. 16, Tsang submitted to the Electoral Affairs Commission his nomination form. Of the 795-member Election Committee, he secured 641 nominations, far exceeding the minimum limit of 100 nominations and becoming a formal candidate.

Leong, who obtained 132 of the nominations, submitted his nomination form a day earlier, also becoming a qualified candidate.

On March 1 and 15, the two candidates faced off in two televised public debates, briefing their respective election platforms and taking questions from the Election Committee members, journalists and the public media.

After the debates, Tsang was described by the public as "a practical-minded person" with more experience in administration and economic management.

Opinion polls by Hong Kong University also showed that since Tsang launching his election campaign, his public supporting rate kept rising. On Saturday, the rate jumped to 81 percent from 72 percent on Feb. 26.

"Tsang's victory is within my expectation, and I think he is the right person to be the chief executive as he is very practical," said Gloria Luk, a 27-year-old businesswoman, after the election results were announced.

She said that Tsang's past experience of helping Hong Kong out of difficulties gave people confidence. "What is important, Tsang is trusted by the central government and this is conducive to HongKong's stability, prosperity and unity."

Born in 1944, Tsang joined the Civil Service in January 1967 and has held many positions. He was elected HKSAR chief executive on June 16, 2005 as his predecessor resigned because of health reasons, and was formally appointed by the Central People's Government on June 21, 2005. His current term of office will last until June 30, 2007.

Ballot boxes are opened at the podium at the polling station in Hong Kong March 25, 2007. As widely expected, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang won five more years as chief executive in a vote on Sunday. [Xinhua]

Editor: Yan