The election's returning officer, Justice Carlye Chu, declared Thursday that Tsang, who secured support from a total of 714 members, including 674 nominations and 40 support agreements, was returned unopposed as the next chief executive.

The election scheduled for July 10 will be canceled and the result will be gazetted today.

Despite the overwhelming support he received, critics warned Tsang will have to face thorny challenges to fulfill his pledges and share power with political parties as a condition of their continued support.

They pointed out that if Tsang fails to live up to his promises to his voters, including the social welfare sector and pro-Beijing political parties, he might fail to secure the same amount of support in 2007 when he is supposed to seek a second term.

Jasper Tsang, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong - which gave 103 nominations to Tsang - admitted the new chief executive had offered to appoint politicians to the government as assistants to principal officials and he had submitted Tsang a list of the party's second generation leaders as possible candidates. He added there were one or two party members suitable for the government job.

Announcing his uncontested victory Thursday, the new chief executive said he understood he had to meet his promises about his three policy priorities - building effective governance, restoring social harmony and promoting economic development.

However, Tsang did not rule out the possibility that his pledges will change because of changes in public demand or the political environment. ``If there is any change in my pledges, it will only be because of changes in public demand and society,'' he said.

Tsang reiterated that he believed the public would be rational in assessing his performance, saying he would deliver his policy blueprint in his maiden Policy Address in October on how to achieve his pledges in those three areas.

``I believe the public understands clearly that some of the tasks cannot be accomplished in one or two years, or even 10 years, because some are long-term policies.

``I believe the Hong Kong people will assess my overall performance by looking at how much work I have started or implemented in accordance with my election platform.

``After all, the most important thing is to operate the government in an open and transparent manner so that the public can rate my performance at any time,'' he said.

However, Tsang dodged questions about his list of candidates to be appointed to the Executive Council, saying he would not exclude anybody, including pan-democrats, as long as they meet the criteria - being a patriot, being capable, sharing the same governance aspirations with him and being representational of society.

He will announce his cabinet line-up in his Policy Address in October.

On reports that some principal officials may leave his team, including justice chief Elsie Leung, Tsang said he very much hoped all principal officials would join hands with him to work for the best interests of Hong Kong.

``I hope that I am setting the beginning of a milestone in governance.

``I don't rule out the possibility that, during this process, there may be changes, but I really hope all principal officials and Exco members are embarking on the same course with me with one heart and mind to serve Hong Kong people,'' he said.

On criticisms that the election was unfair as the nomination process was conducted in an open ballot, Tsang said that the electoral system is not perfect.

He believed, as the electoral system is moving toward greater democracy in 2007 under political reform, there will be more people participating in the election.

``We are working towards a more open system of electing the CE and Legco in 2007-08. I am sure more people will be able to participate in that exercise. This is a process we have to go through in reaching our final destination of universal suffrage,'' he said.

But he added there was nothing wrong with opening up the nomination process. ``[This] is an open process in which the stance of every nominator will be made public.

``If there are direct elections, things will be simple because every voter will just represent himself only without the obligation to tell others his voting choice. But in this case, when each voter represents a particular sector, there is a reason [for such an open nomination process],'' he said.

After the election result is gazetted, the government will submit it to the State Council for formal approval.

Tsang is expected to go to Beijing on June 21 to be appointed as chief executive by the central leaders and to be sworn in during the handover ceremony on July 1.

Tsang said after he was sworn in, he and his wife would move into Government House as his formal residence.

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cannix.yau@singtaonewscorp.com