Agence France Presse

Hong Kong, June 16:

Veteran civil servant Donald Tsang was declared Hong Kong’s new leader by election officials today after securing the overwhelming support of a Beijing-backed committee that selects the Chinese territory’s chief executive. In a short statement, the Electoral Affairs Commission’s Returning Officer, Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling said Tsang had been declared victor after emerging as the only valid candidate from a preliminary nomination round. Justice Chu said the popular Tsang, who had long been groomed to succeed former leader Tung Chee-hwa, had secured the backing of 674 members of the 800-strong election committee of mostly Beijing loyalists. Acting chief executive Henry Tangsaid he would inform China’s State Council of the result.