2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election

Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2012

25 March 2012

Nominee Albert Ho Henry Tang Party Democratic Nonpartisan Alliance Pan-democracy Pro-Beijing

Incumbent Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang Nonpartisan

An election will be held on 25 March 2012 to select the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The incumbent Chief Executive Donald Tsang is barred from seeking a third term pursuant to the Basic Law of Hong Kong. The fourth Chief Executive term will begin on 1 July 2012. The CE will be elected by a 1200-member Election Committee (EC) (which represents about 0.01% of Hong Kong's population).

The pro-democracy camp held a primary election where Albert Ho of the Democratic Party won against Frederick Fung. Although it is widely expected that a pro-Beijing candidate will win in a landslide, a number of controversies erupted in the territory involving the pro-establishment candidates even before the opening of nominations. Firstly, Tang faced revelations that he had been conducting an extra-marital relationship; his wife came out to "stand by her man".

Then there were indications of underhand tactics and practices were being employed. Once the nomination period officially opened, Henry Tang became embroiled in a scandal involving alleged massively illegal structures at a property owned by him and/or his wife. Tang disclaimed knowledge of the full extent of the illegal constructions, while his wife claimed responsibility for them. As a result of his handling, his public popularity plummeted. His integrity also came into question, and he faced calls from both opposition and pro-establishment camps to abandon his campaign.

Candidates with interests to run

Pro-Beijing

Chief Secretary Henry Tang, considered the first choice of Beijing, resigned from government in late September 2011 and. After Wikileaks had exposed that the Convenor of the Executive Council Leung Chun-ying had decided to run for the post in 2009, Leung announced his plan to run on 9 September and resigned from his post in the government in mid September 2011. Besides Tang and Leung, Rita Fan and Regina Ip also expressed their interest in running for the post, but dropped out on 15 December. She lost a lot of public support and respect by taking six months to consider her candidacy. After much prevarication and blowing hot and cold in front of the media, Fan announced that she would not participate because her age and health would become concerns into the CE term; and she endorsed Henry Tang. However, many believe that the real reason was pressure from Beijing which led to her final decision. However, after Henry Tang became embroiled in an unauthorized building works scandal, the field of pro-establishment candidates once again opened up: Ip re-announced her interest in running for the post on 20 February; LegCo president Jasper Tsang also expressed his interest to run for the post. In addition to Rita Fan, Financial Secretary John Tsang and Secretary for Development Carrie Lam, businessman Victor Fung and Joseph Yam have been touted by pundits as possible candidates.

• 
  Former Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen
• 
  Leung Chun-ying, former convenor of the Executive Council
• 
  Former President of the Legislative Council Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai
• 
  Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Legislative Council member Chairman of New People's Party, former Secretary for Security
• 
  Jasper Tsang Yok-shing President of the Legislative Council, Former Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong

Pro-Democracy

Alan Leong who contested the CE election last time expressed an interest in standing again but later announced that the Civic Party would not join the election. Albert Ho, the chairman of the Democratic Party decided to run for the post on 4 October 2011. Frederick Fung also expressed his interest in running for the post, and officially announced his decision to participate in the election on 8 December 2011 at pier number nine at the Central Piers. After winning over 150 seats in the Election Committee subsector elections, the democrats conducted a primary election on 8 January 2012 to elect either Ho or Fung to run for the post on behalf of the pro-democracy camp. All Hong Kong permanent residents were eligible to vote in this primary election. Albert Ho won, meaning that he would represent the pro-democracy camp to run for the chief executive election 2012.

• 
  Legislative Council Member Albert Ho Chun-yan, Chairman of Democratic Party
• 
  Legislative Council Member Frederick Fung Kin-kee, member of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood.
• 
  Legislative Council Member Alan Leong Kah-kit, Chairman of the Civic Party.

Non-party

Other non party affiliates with interest to run include Kan Kit-hung (簡傑鴻). Kan decided to run on 26 January, and has admitted that out of the entire 1200-members of the election committee, he doesn’t know any one of them personally.

Yu Wing-yin (余永賢), consultant of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute decided to run for the election on 31 January. Yu is known for supporting the crackdown actions of the Communist government during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests, and said it was too bad they didn't have water cannons and plastic bullets.

Wu Sai-tsuen (胡世全), a former DAB member, he decided to run on 13 February, just the day before the nomination period starts.

• 
  Kan Kit-hung
• 
  Yu Wing-yin
• 
  Wu Sai-tsuen

Nominations

The nomination period runs from 14 February until 29 February.

Albert Ho was the first declared candidate to submit his nomination, having secured 184 votes (including his own) from Election Committee members. He failed to capture 21 out of all the known Pan-democrat votes.

Henry Tang was the second to submit his nomination; he did so on 20 February after having secured 379 nominations, on the day the press published allegations of yet another of his extra-marital liaisons. Tang's nominees included most of the major local property magnates: Li Ka-shing, Lee Shau-kee of Henderson Land Development, New World Development's Henry Cheng and Sun Hung Kai Properties' Raymond and Thomas Kwok, Chinese Estates Holdngs chairman Joseph Lau; Tang is also endorsed by Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat and film director Stephen Chow

Controversies

Li Ka-shing gaffe

Henry Tang has long been a strong supporter of Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's richest tycoon. In May 2011 Tang even said publicly that all young citizens need to ask themselves why they cannot be more like Li Ka-shing. This caused uproar and criticism.

On 4 August 2011 Li Ka-shing tried to show public support for Tang at a public "Interim Results announcement meeting" for Hutchison Whampoa and praised Tang for five full minutes. Then Li slipped and said "You all can be just like me, one-person-one-vote (一人一票)." The media then looked at Li in disbelief, and pointed out that regular citizens do not get one-person-one-vote. Li tried to laugh it off and said "maybe in 2017 they will have one-person-one-vote to choose the chief executive, I probably just said it a little early."

Indecision

In mid October 2011 there were complaints that the Pro-Beijing candidiates had not officially declared to run for Chief Executive. Pan-democrat Emily Lau specifically said Leung Chun-ying and Henry Tang were inviting 10,000 people out to wine and dine on public expenses, and that this was unfair and irresponsible when neither appeared to want to run for chief executive. Rita Fan also flip flopped multiple times. While she wanted to run when she was the most popular, when Tang showed his intention to run, she stepped back and said Tang was an acceptable candidate. However, when the extramarital affair of Henry Tang was exposed, Fan withdrew her support for him.

Baptist University survey poll scandal

On 14 January 2012 Zhao Xinshu (趙心樹), dean of Hong Kong Baptist University School of Communication, prematurely presented a survey result showing candidate Leung Chun-ying with only a small lead (6.5% points) over Henry Tang out 836 people surveyed. By the time the survey was completed with the 1000 sample, Leung led Tang by a 8.9% point margin. This caused speculations whether the poll was rigged. On 19 January Henry Tang admitted his communication advisor Lucy Chan Wai-yee (陳慧兒) had made a call to the Baptist University prior to the announcement of the unfinished result.

Tang denied that he interfered with the poll; Zhao Xinshu took on the blame, and explained that the early announcement was to avoid losing media coverage to the Republic of China presidential election. The school denied having any political stance. Zhao resigned from the school dean position, but retained his teaching post. School staff, students and alumni were dissatisfied with the short investigation, which lasted only 10 days involving 16 internal school members. Zhao may face further investigation by the ICAC.

C. Y. Leung conflict of interest allegations

In an exclusive in early 2012, East Week magazine said Leung was one of 10 judges in the 2001 concept planning competition for the West Kowloon Cultural District despite his company acting as a consultant for one of the competitors. Leung had declared on 25 February 2002, that he was in no way interested in the competition, whether in a personal or professional capacity.

Upon questioning following the press report, he reiterated: "There was no business relationship, or conflict of interest. I have already reported the case to the jury committee chairman and government bodies ... One quantity surveyor under a particular professional team asked our company about related comments and information on land prices in West Kowloon. But we did not take any money in return." The contestant in question, Malaysian company LWK & Partners, named DTZ Holdings – Leung's company – as a "consultant" in its competition entry. Leung said that he immediately questioned his staff upon learning about it, and had in fact written an explanatory letter to the jury upon being aware.

As the row continued, the government generated further controversy on 8 February when it issued two statements, one explaining the failure of candidate Leung to declare a possible conflict of interest in the West Kowloon Reclamation Concept Plan Competition, and other that cleared Henry Tang Ying-yen of any conflict of interest relating to his decision to lower wine duties when he was financial secretary. A government spokesman insisted it was impartial in issuing the two statements. However, Asia Sentinel suggested the selective leak of such allegations by the government who then refused to make public all the documents relating to the issue as requested by Leung himself was a smear originating from the Tang camp. Leung said he welcomed full disclosure of all the facts and documents relating to his involvement in the contest, including "minutes of judges' panel meetings." The government said that had written to seek consent from both Leung Chun-ying and the contestant's architects TR Hamzah & Yeang to release information concerning their respective roles in the West Kowloon Reclamation Concept Plan.

Illegal structures at Henry Tang's home

Media-hired cranes stooping over 5 and 7 York Road – Henry Tang's residence – following revelations of illegal structures there.

"As a man, one needs to have shoulders and as a public officer, one needs to have backbone," – Henry Tang, 13 February 2012 (statement in response to press alleged illegal structures at his properties)

Following media allegations of illegal structures at the Kowloon Tong residence of the leading contender, Tang admitted on 13 February that there was an unauthorized structure at his home at No 5A York Road in the form of a canopy above the garage. He also said that there was already an underground garage at his family's adjacent property (7 York Road) at the time of purchase, which had since been deepened "for storage". He said it was not used as a wine cellar.

Tang had been previously been asked by Ming Pao October of the existence of a secret wine cellar not shown in plans submitted to the Buildings Department, but denied it. Tang backtracked on 13 February, saying it was "a misunderstanding ... The question asked was whether there was a wine cellar at No 5." He responded that there was no wine cellar at his home.

Alleged floor plan of 7 York Road – Henry Tang's residence – exposed by a local tabloid.

On 15 February, Chinese newspaper Sharp Daily published a set of floor plans purporting to be of the 2,400-square-foot illegal basement at one of Tang's properties comprising a store room, fitness room, changing room, cinema and wine-tasting room dating from 2003. Tang said the drawing "does not match. [The basement] is basically used for storage." The Buildings Department said that the property was inspected on 22 January 2007, and no unauthorized structures were found. Local residents and bystanders were bemused by the media and political circus that gathered in York Road as inspectors made a site visit on 16 February: media hired building cranes to gain vantage over the property; Leung Kwok Hung led a protest outside Tang's residence and urged him to withdraw from the election. The South China Morning Post revealed that the property was held through a British Virgins Island company in which he once held shares; Tang transferred full ownership to his wife in 2010.

In a press conference, Tang's wife took responsibility for the illegal basement facility. Tang also apologised for mishandling the issue and for not properly addressing the furore generated. Tang refused to withdraw from the election, and said he had "realized that there was an illegal underground basement in my residence." He blamed the mishandling on the marital problems he was facing at the time. He has been criticised for having to hide behind his wife.

Tang's support from pro-establishment political parties showed signs of softening: the Liberal Party indicated that although it would not seek the return of its 62 election committee nominations, its members would necessarily vote for him in the election. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said it would "carefully consider the saga and Tang's personal integrity to determine whether they will nominate and support him in the chief executive election." Regina Ip, who still harbours ambitions to be the Chief Executive, called on Tang to withdraw from the race, saying that Tang's "integrity and credibility have been tarnished." Jasper Tsang said he was 'seriously considering' throwing his hat in the ring, with speculation that Beijing was seeking to stop "political careerists" from joining the contest for the Chief Executive. Pundits said that the chances of other contenders joining the race to become the chief executive would remain open if Tang's woes continue. Another pundit, Johnny Lau, believes the mooted candidature of Tsang is a ploy by Beijing to gauge its next moves. Lau said Tsang could prove an acceptable compromise for the pro-establishment factions if Tang's popularity does not recover and if Leung is unacceptable to local tycoons.

The leader of the South China Morning Post of 17 February was highly critical. It asserted that Tang had no option but to quit. It said: "One oversight is perhaps not fatal. But attempts to cover up one's mistakes are political suicide. The chief executive hopeful has given the impression that he has not been telling the truth as the fiasco continues to unfold ... Instead of giving a straightforward answer, he appeared to have played with words and repeatedly dodged the key question to play down the controversy. But his statements have been unconvincing and his explanations have only raised more questions." Oriental Daily News pointed out Tang is suffering from Fan Tai shui, an astrological concept where he is destined to experience hardship in his election year.

A poll conducted by the University of Hong Kong on behalf of the South China Morning Post showed a sharply declining level of support for Tang to stay in the race over the two days of the breaking scandal: 116 of 183 people polled on 17 February saying Tang should withdraw, sharply up from 149 out of 333 people (44.8%) on 16 February – overall 51.3%. 410 of the 516 people surveyed said the incident reflected poorly on Tang's integrity.

Polling

Date(s) Conducted	Client/Political Organisation	Sample Size	Henry Tang Ying-yen	Leung Chun-ying	Alan Leong Kah-kit	Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai	Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee	Jasper Tsang Yok-sing	Albert Ho Chun-yan	% Lead
2012
13–16 Feb	Apple Daily/HKU POP	1,001	23.7%	48.5%	−	−	−	−	17.2%	24.8%
6–9 Feb	HKU POP	1,001	27.8%	52.3%	−	−	−	−	12.2%	24.5%
30 Jan – 2 Feb	HKU POP	1,002	30.0%	48.8%	−	−	−	−	14.4%	18.8%
16–19 Jan	HKU POP	1,022	29.7%	42.9%	−	−	−	−	9.1%	13.2%
2011
19–20 Dec	Ming Pao/HKU POP	500	29.7%	41.8%	−	−	−	−	8.0%	12.1%
6–7 Dec	Apple Daily/HKU POP	513	18.2%	34.7%	−	−	17.8%	−	6.2%	16.5%
28 Nov – 1 Dec	SCMP/HKU POP	1,012	23.8%	47.3%	−	−	0.2%	−	3.7%	23.5%
25–28 Oct	Apple Daily/HKU POP	503	9.9%	35.3%	11.2%	12.3%	12.6%	−	2.7%	22.5%
Mid Oct	Ming Pao/HKU POP	505	18.1%	47.5%	−	−	−	−	11.1%	29.4%
			14%	40.8%	−	18.7%	−	−	9.3%	22.1%
11–12 Oct	SCMP/HKU POP	533	14.0%	29.1%	−	19.2%	13.8%	−	4.4%	15.1%
26–28 Sep	Apple Daily/HKU POP	500	16.3%	20.5%	10.0%	24.4%	17.1%	−	1.3%	3.9%
23–25 Aug	Ming Pao/HKU POP	504	15.1%	14.4%	15.1%	34.5%	−	5.1%	−	19.4%
24–27 Jun	Now TV	543	13.4%	27.6%	−	47.1%	−	11.8%	−	19.5%
21–22 Jun	SCMP/HKU POP	512	10.2%	8.3%	13.3%	32.9%	9.1%	−	−	19.6%
16–18 May	Ming Pao/HKU POP	537	10%	6%	14%	42%	12%	−	−	28%
14–15 Jan	Ming Pao/HKU POP	567	28.5%	14.5%	27.8%	−	−	−	−	0.7%
2010
Nov	Hong Kong Transition Project	807	53%	37%	45%	60%	−	−	−	7%
17–24 Nov	Ming Pao/HKU POP	576	43.2%	13.1%	25.0%	−	−	−	−	18.2%
10–12 Aug	Ming Pao/HKU POP	551	31.5%	10.7%	24.5%	−	−	−	−	7.0%
18–19 May	Ming Pao/HKU POP	521	32.9%	16.2%	28.0%	−	−	−	−	8.9%
22–25 Feb	Ming Pao/HKU POP	517	38.2%	13.3%	22.0%	−	−	−	−	6.2%
2009
19–22 Nov	Ming Pao/HKU POP	503	41.9%	14.6%	28.1%	−	−	−	−	13.8%
25–28 Aug	Ming Pao/HKU POP	504	40.7%	8.8%	17.5%	−	−	−	−	23.2%