The pan-democrats have won a high number of seats in the chief executive Election Committee, while Civic Party legislator Alan Leong looks set to challenge Donald Tsang for the territory's top position
A contested chief executive race looks likely for the first time in 10 years after the pan-democrats made surprise inroads in last week's poll to form the panel that will choose Hong Kong's next leader.
Of the 137 candidates affiliated with the Civic Party, Democratic Party and their allies, 114 won seats on the Election Committee, a result that took the parties' leaders as well as Beijing and the office of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen by surprise.
Together with 20 allied lawmakers on the committee, Civic Party legislator Alan Leong Kah-kit is expected to secure 134 nominations, more than the 100 required to stand against Mr Tsang in the March race.
The pan-democrats have been pushing for competition in the chief executive election since Tung Chee-hwa and Mr Tsang were criticised for lacking quality platforms in their uncontested victories in 2000 and last year. Only the first chief executive race, in 1996, attracted contenders - four of them.
Mr Leong, who has no chance of winning the top job, said the results showed people's strong wish for a contested chief executive race, with debates on policy platforms.
'We hope that those in power could have a clear understanding of Hong Kong people's aspirations for democracy and a contested chief executive election,'
