Tung Chee Hwa, incumbent chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), has been elected uncontested in the second Chief Executive election, with the support of over 90 percent of the Election Committee members.

Justice Pang Kin-kee, returning officer of the 2002 Chief Executive election, declared that after the two-week nomination exercise closed at 5 p.m. local time Thursday, Tung Chee Hwa, the only validly nominated candidate, has won the election uncontestedunder the Chief Executive Election Ordinance.

Tung's nomination was made by a total of 714 members of the 794-member Election Committee.

The chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR is elected by the Election Committee, serves a five-year term of office and is eligible to be re-elected once for a second term, according to theBasic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

Justice Woo Kwok-hing, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, which conducts and supervises the election, announced that the election result is lawful and valid.

"All the electoral arrangements and procedures have complied with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,the Chief Executive Election Ordinance and other related statutoryprovisions," he stated.

The name of the validly nominated candidate, the names of the Election Committee members nominating Tung and the election resultwill be published in the SAR government gazette on March 1.

Under the Basic Law, the Hong Kong SAR government will report the election result to the central people's government for appointment.

Informed of his winning in the election, Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive-elect of the Hong Kong SAR for the second term, expressed thanks to the people of Hong Kong for their support.

"I am most grateful to the members of the Election Committee and to the people of Hong Kong for your support and trust and honor," Tung said at his election office.

He said during the election he has listened carefully and intensely to the views of the Election Committee and to the peopleof Hong Kong.

"I know that the greatest concern of the Hong Kong people is the early revival of the Hong Kong economy and the improvements ofgovernment structure and performance," he said. "My undertaking tothe people of Hong Kong is that I will respond to these challenges."

"We need to work in unity. It is my earnest hope to work together with all the people of Hong Kong. I will continue to serve Hong Kong with commitment and with dedication and to the best of my ability," he stated.

Tung, 65, ran for the election of the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR before the return of Hong Kong to China, and wonthe overwhelming majority of votes.

After the appointment by the central people's government, Tung assumed the post of the first Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive on July 1, 1997.

During the past four years, Tung has made great efforts in carrying out the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law to the letter in Hong Kong.

Under his leadership, the Hong Kong SAR government has soundly solved a series of matters significantly concerned with the politics, economy and society in Hong Kong, and has managed to maintain the stability of SAR.

All TV stations of Hong Kong broadcast the event live to make the Hong Kong citizens acquainted with the news immediately.

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