Olympian Vivian Kong wins tourism seat with 131 votes; rival takes 23

Paris Olympics gold medalist Vivian Kong Man-wai wins the Legislative Council tourism functional constituency seat with 131 votes, defeating her opponent, travel and technology company director Ma Yat-chiu, who received only 23 votes.

Kong, 31, retired from professional fencing after her historic gold medal win at the Paris Olympics and took up a position as assistant manager of external affairs at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. She suspended her Jockey Club duties after news of her candidacy broke.

Kong admitted to holding a Canadian passport when registering for the election, adding she is applying to renounce it.

Kong was parachuted into the tourism sector race and received endorsements from many business and tourism figures, including Sino Group chairman Daryl Ng Win-kong and Travel Industry Council chairman Tommy Tam Kwong-shun.