Incumbent Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was formally nominated yesterday to stand for another term as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Having won 641 nominations from 796 members of the HKSAR Electoral Affairs Commission, Tsang became an eligible candidate for chief in the region's third set of elections.

"I pledge that if I am successful in securing a second term, I will do my very best for Hong Kong," Tsang said outside the Electoral Affairs Commission, where he submitted his nomination forms.

Tsang expressed his thanks for the many Hong Kong citizens who had given him warm support since he announced he would run for reelection on February 1. He said he would work together with the Hong Kong people to build a new Hong Kong.

Alan Leong Kah Kit, who has also announced his intention to stand in the election, was formally qualified on February 14 after handing in 132 nomination forms.

According to Hong Kong laws, nominations for the election of the HKSAR chief executive will be open from February 14 to March 1. Those who win nominations from at least 100 Electoral Affairs Commission members are eligible to stand.

The election for the post of chief executive will be held on March 25 by the HKSAR Electoral Affairs Commission in a secret ballot in Hong Kong and then relayed to the central government.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)