Double trouble for CY Leung? John Tsang announces possible bid for Hong Kong’s top job soon after Jasper Tsang does the same

Hong Kong’s choices for a new chief executive next March expanded dramatically yesterday when not one but two popular figures – Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah and retiring Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing – declared they were prepared to take on incumbent Leung Chun-ying for the city’s top job.

The double trouble their ambitions could pose to Leung’s strong chances of securing a second term appeared to be uncoordinated but confirmed observers’ suspicions that they could be among the top contenders for the job.

Political analysts said while the duo’s separate declarations of intent could put the heat on Leung as he decides on a re-election bid for next March, it would also take some pressure off Beijing loyalists preparing for the Legco polls in September. Pro-establishment hopefuls had struggled when asked in public if they supported Leung for another five years.

The first political bombshell of the day was dropped by Jasper Tsang in an early morning RTHK interview.

“If no one else really wants to run, and if it turns out it is both necessary and possible for me to stand as a candidate to offer a genuine choice – at least to the election committee – then I will consider that,” Tsang told the station, expressing hope there would be a genuine competition un the leadership race next year.

The drama continued as the retiring Legco president attended a Commercial Radio programme next to share his views on the chief executive race. An hour later, the station broadcast a pre-recorded interview with John Tsang, in which the financial secretary said for the first time that he was “willing to take up the job as chief executive if it can help to contribute to ­society”.