Democratic Party chief Lee Wing-tat declared yesterday he would run for chief executive in the July 10 election.
His move ended weeks of speculation about whether anyone would step forward to challenge acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who is seen as the frontrunner for the post.
Mr Lee said he had decided to run after the party's founding chairman, Martin Lee Chu-ming, said he would not stand.
'We simply do not want a repeat of the 2002 election when we only had one candidate,' Mr Lee said last night. 'It will be unhealthy for the democratic development of Hong Kong. I hope my proposed candidacy will open up a public debate on the chief executive election.'
A number of potential contenders have already made it clear they will not contest the post. They include Executive Council member Leung Chun-ying, tycoon Peter Woo Kwong-ching, Airport Authority chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king and Legco president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai.
Education chief Arthur Li Kwok-cheung also said he had no intention of standing.