New SAR leader reaffirms faith in 'One Country, Two Systems'

Leung Chun-ying will be Hong Kong's next chief executive, after crushing his two opponents on Sunday.

Leung's victory came at the end of a bitter campaign.

The other contestants were former chief secretary for administration Henry Tang Ying-yen and Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan.

"The election is over. Cooperation must start right now," Leung declared in his victory statement. "From now on, there are no more Leung supporters or Tang supporters or Ho supporters. There will be only supporters of Hong Kong."

Leung captured 689 votes in the ballot, well above the 601 required for victory. Of the 1,200-member election committee, 1,132 cast valid ballots.

Leung reaffirmed his faith in the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and a high degree of autonomy for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He pledged to address the SAR's most pressing problems, citing the unequal distribution of wealth and chronic housing issues.

The government that he forms will be open to criticism, he said. "I will walk into the crowd with a stool, a notepad and a pen. When you are ready to speak, I am ready to listen," he said in his victory statement.

Former convener of Hong Kong's Executive Council Leung Chun-ying and his wife, Regina, celebrate his victory in the election for chief executive on Sunday. Associated Press