Although Leung has pledged to increase housing supply and study how many homes should be built, Tse said the chief executive had disappointed by not setting a minimum standard on the space available to each Hongkonger. "We are finding new homes smaller and smaller," Tse said. "There should be a 10-year policy goal to lay down a minimum living space per capita."

Tse has worked for several big developers, including Henderson Land Development, during his 30 years in the field, but he dismissed speculation he was acting in the interest of developers.

"Almost everyone in our sector has worked for developers," he said. "I have acted professionally in flat sales with no exaggerated marketing strategies. I've also said things that developers may not like, like calling for regular land auctions."

Tse is a member of the Xuhui district of the Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, but he said he was not worried about being labelled a Beijing loyalist.

"Why must a pro-China person be a bad person?" he said. "No matter what hat you wear, what's important is you talk with solid facts and data."

Incumbent legislator Professor Patrick Lau Sau-shing said he was not concerned about the challenge from Tse. "I have eight years of experience in Legco and I believe continuity is important in steering the infrastructure projects and legal proposal ahead," said Lau, an architect. "I can guarantee stability in the present political chaos."

Lau said the government needed to first take action to increase land supply, including increasing the development density in the New Territories. He also called for regular land auctions to stabilise prices.

Another candidate, Democrat Stanley Ng Wing-fai, an urban planner who lost to Lau by 700 votes in 2008, said he could win over Lau supporters. Ng said Lau had disappointed by endorsing the government's proposal to fill seats vacated by resignation.