Doubts over support for a CY Leung re-election bid among architects as key figures turn against Hong Kong leader
Subsector of Election Committee that chooses city’s leader sees major players cite desire for change and pan-democrats step up efforts to win control
The building trade may no longer be a stronghold of Leung Chun-ying in the leadership race next March as it was in 2012, with some major players turning against him and pan-democratic politicians vowing to infiltrate the sector.
The architectural, surveying, planning and landscape subsector is the second most keenly contested of all the 38 subgroups on the Election Committee which will choose the city’s next chief executive. A total of 92 candidates are vying for 30 seats owned by the subsector on the committee – a candidate-to-seat ratio only beaten by the health services subsector.
Building professionals in the 2012 election proved a key source of support for Leung, who formerly worked as a surveyor. That year, 23 of the 30 elected members in the subsector nominated Leung for the top job. A chief executive contender needs 150 votes in the 1,200-member Election Committee to qualify for consideration, and 601 to win.
But this time round, several veterans of the subsector who nominated Leung in 2012 have hinted they were thinking otherwise this time around. Among them was Vincent Ng Wing-shun, who told the Post he might not repeat his 2012 backing.
