Crisis the result of Beijing's failure to vet the candidates

If there is one thing certain about the political storm hitting Hong Kong and reverberating in Beijing, it is that very few people would have expected this to happen even a few weeks ago.

The so-called 'small circle' election to choose our next chief executive was supposed to be smooth and hassle free. The leader would be selected by an election committee of 1,200 largely pro-Beijing business and political elites, just like the two previous chief executives were chosen following clear direction from Beijing.

But no one in Hong Kong, let alone on the mainland, would have expected this election process to stir such a democratic fever, which is increasingly likely to doom the prospects of Beijing's long-preferred candidate, Henry Tang Ying-yen.

Thanks to a vibrant local press and independent university polls, the 'small circle' election has suddenly taken on the feel of a truly democratic exercise as public opinion shapes up as an important force in choosing the city's leader.

What was envisioned as a 'gentlemen's competition' in Beijing has become a western-style electoral affair characterised by scandals and mudslinging.

The overseas media which was initially slow to react has begun to catch up by playing up the democratic fervour and wondering aloud that the latest developments must have mainland leaders nervous and on edge.

There is little doubt that mainland officials are very concerned as their representatives are spreading across Hong Kong to measure the public pulse and cabling their findings daily to the Zhongnanhai leadership compound. They should not be overly worried. But they should draw serious lessons, one of which is that they must do a better job of vetting their preferred candidate(s).