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HONG KONG: Donald Tsang has virtually won the race for Hong Kong's chief executive (CE) post, the SAR's highest public office.

Flanked by his campaign aides, he walked into returning officer (RO) and High Court judge Carlye Chu's office yesterday and handed her his nomination paper with the support of most of the Election Committee (EC) members.

To be precise, the 3-inch thick bunch of papers contained the signatures of 674 members and letters of support from another 36 of the 796 EC members.

The overwhelming support for Tsang dashed any hopes the two other contenders, Lee Wing-tat and Chim Pui-chung, had of taking the battle for the CE post into the final round of elections.

Though Chu has not declared Tsang as the unopposed winner, such an announcement has become a technical formality.

The bypoll was called after former CE, Tung Chee-hwa, resigned on health grounds in March. The EC must hold a ballot to elect a winner if there is more than one nomination for the position.

But since the chances of either Lee or Chim getting the mandatory 100 EC members' support to necessitate an EC vote have been effectively reduced to zero, the two have no option but to concede defeat even before the nominations close at 5 pm today. And soon after that Tsang is likely to be declared the uncontested winner.

A brief statement issued by the RO's office yesterday said Justice Chu had examined Tsang's nomination paper as a CE candidate and found it valid.

A triumphant Tsang told the press corps trailing him that he felt excited about the support he had won, for he believed the EC members' backing reflected the views of the different community sectors and the masses.

"Just a moment ago, I handed to the returning officer, Justice Chu, my nomination form. The process was smooth," Tsang said as he left the RO's office.

"I fully understand that the support EC members have expressed represents the expectation, advice and blessing of many Hong Kong people in different sectors. I feel excited and (sense) the pressure of the undertaking."

A source close to Tsang's campaign office said he was likely to visit Beijing next week. According to the Basic Law, the ultimate authority to appoint Hong Kong's CE rests with the central government.

Though the campaign has reached the final phase, the source said, it will not prevent the CE hopeful from getting close to the people and his constituents.

He will visit Hong Kong Society for the Blind in Sham Shui Po this morning. And after that, he will return to his election office to meet EC members from the health services and medical sectors.

His campaign team is reportedly putting final touches to more such programmes to take him closer to the masses. Tsang has widespread support, from corporate bigwigs to grassroots leaders.

Editor: Yan