HONG KONG _ Hong Kong's elite selects a new leader Sunday in a vote marked by leaks about China's behind-the-scenes efforts to control who runs the former British colony.
Beijing's support for Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's former No. 2 official, has been so overt that even she has complained it's hurt her popularity. Her main rival, ex-Financial Secretary John Tsang, 65, has seen his poll numbers surge among members of the public, who have no say in the vote. The race will be decided by an election committee of 1,194 political and business elites.
Tsang's popularity shows China's dilemma as it seeks to preserve the "one country, two systems" framework promised to Hong Kong before the U.K. handed back the city two decades ago. A victory by Lam, 59, risks aggravating frustrations with the political system _ illustrated by the Occupy protests of 2014 _ even if Chinese President Xi Jinping secures a proven loyalist as chief executive for the next five years.
"This election has been unusual _ even before Hong Kong people had an adequate opportunity to express our views and influence her platform, she was said to be 'The One' selected by Beijing," said Chung Kim-wah, a political scientist at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. "That stirred antagonism not only against her, but against the system."
Here's a guide to Sunday's election:
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