Poll results pile pressure on Henry Tang

Scandal-hit Henry Tang Ying-yen's bid to become the next chief executive has been dealt a new blow by an exclusive South China Morning Post poll, which found most people doubt his integrity and more than half think he should quit the race.

The latest setback comes at the end of a damaging week for the former chief secretary, who is embroiled in a growing scandal over illegal structures at a home owned by his wife Lisa Kuo Yu-chin - and his insistence the work was her idea.

Surprisingly, given that 60-year-old Tang earlier admitted 'straying' in his love life and widespread accusations that he was hiding behind his wife over the illegal structures row, fewer women than men polled said he should quit the race to become Hong Kong's next leader.

In the poll, carried out by the University of Hong Kong on Thursday and Friday after they publicly admitted their home in Kowloon Tong had illegal structures - including unauthorised work in a 2,250 sq ft basement - 51.3 per cent of the 516 people asked said Tang should quit the race.

It followed Tang's comments that it was his wife's idea to build an illegal structure in the basement of the mansion at No 7 York Road which led to him being lambasted in the media for 'hiding behind the woman'.

HKU's poll director Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu said: 'All figures show that Tang's scandal has taken a big toll on his credibility, it may be unwise for him to stay in the race.'