The difference between the budgets of incumbent Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and his chief executive challenger Alan Leong Kah-kit has been graphically illustrated in the past few days.
Since last Saturday, Mr Tsang's election slogan, 'I'll get the job done', has been emblazoned on advertising panels in MTR and KCR stations and on a large billboard opposite the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay. In case you missed these, a 60-second election video is broadcast every hour on the big screen outside the Queen's Theatre.
In contrast, you're unlikely to be reminded of Mr Leong's candidacy unless you bump into Mr Leong himself collecting signatures in various districts.
'Our campaign budget is just HK$3 million. How can we afford to cover the whole city [with advertisements],' Mr Leong's campaign spokesman said yesterday.
With Bank of East Asia chief David Li Kwok-po in charge of fundraising efforts, Mr Tsang is tipped to have at least HK$9.5 million - the official limit - in his war chest.
It has enabled him to display seven different designs of the slogan with the titles of jobs Mr Tsang has held - aimed, according to his spokeswoman, to show 'he has the track record' of public service.
