Pan-democrats vow to vote en bloc for John Tsang in Hong Kong leadership election

But even if all 326 Election Committee members stick to the script, the odds are still stacked against the former financial minister

Reading Time:2 minutes

Chief Executive candidate John Tsang tries his hand at brick laying during a training open day in Sheung Shui. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 2:45pm, 4 Mar 2017Updated: 3:04am, 5 Mar 2017

Pan-democrats vowed on Saturday to give all 326 votes to John Tsang Chun-wah, the “most popular” candidate, in Hong Kong’s leadership race, in a move seen as a hint to pro-Beijing electors ahead of the secret ballot on March 26.

But even if all 326 pan-dem members of the 1,194-strong Election Committee opt for the former financial secretary, he still faces an uphill battle to secure the minimum 601 votes needed to become the next chief executive.

Carrie Lam (third from right) visits a food stall in Tai Hang on Saturday. Photo: Carrie Lam’s campaign office

Tsang’s arch-rival, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, is seen as Beijing’s preferred candidate and has already bagged 580 nominations.

Dennis Kwok, a pan-democratic lawmaker who co-ordinated the electors from his camp, said: “ We decided to unanimously vote for the most popular candidate in order to avoid someone continuing the style of Leung Chun-ying.”

When Lam indicated she would run for the top job last year, after Leung’s decision not to seek re-election, she vowed to continue his policy directions, but in recent weeks has sought to distance herself from him.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x