Lee Wing-tat signs up 19 new backers
Nineteen pro-democracy legislators nominated Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat to run for chief executive yesterday.
Independent Albert Cheng King-hon earlier failed to persuade three moderate democrats to defect to the camp of his friend Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
In a rally outside the Legislative Council building, Mr Lee vowed to continue seeking the 100 nominations he needs from Election Committee members to force an election.
'I am happy and am enjoying the process,' he said.
He blamed interference from Beijing for the wavering support for his candidacy among the 36 electors from the social welfare sector.
Among those nominating Mr Lee were Mandy Tam Heung-man, representative of the accounting sector, medical sector representative Kwok Ka-ki and health services sector lawmaker Joseph Lee Kok-long. Mr Cheng had lobbied all three to nominate Mr Tsang.
Meanwhile, the biggest pro-government party has still not decided which candidate to back.
The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong has more than 100 members on the Election Committee. Party vice-chairman Tam Yiu-chung said its central committee could not agree whether they should jointly support a candidate for chief executive.
