HK Christians call for electoral change

RELIGIOUS leaders have called for changes in the election process of Hong Kong’s chief executive officer amid deepening scandals surrounding two of the leading candidates.

“The congenital defect of the ‘small-circle election’ makes us angry and disappointed,” leaders from various Protestant denominations, theological seminaries and Christian organizations said in a statement to be published today in two local newspapers.

The statement has been signed by more than 800 people.

Local media has described this year’s election, to be held on March 25, as a contest between “the pig” and “the wolf” in reference to candidates Henry Tang Ying-yen and Leung Chun-ying, respectively.

Tang, a wealthy businessman turned civil servant who many believe is Beijing’s preferred candidate, has been dogged by questions about his credibility over the building of an illegal luxury basement in his wife’s home and marital infidelity.

Leung, a surveyor and former Executive Council convener, leads Tang in public opinion polls despite recent allegations by local media of business irregularities and being a Communist Party member, both of which he has denied.

Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, the third candidate in the race, is widely thought to have little chance of winning.

Report from ucanews.com