Leung Chun-ying, former convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, Albert Ho, a lawmaker who is also head of a local political party, and Henry Tang, former chief secretary of the city government has been selected as the fourth-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. That's according to the latest announcement by the head of the city's electoral commission.

File photo of Leung Chun-ying [Xinhua]

Members of the 12 hundred-strong Election Committee started voting on Sunday morning, with each member entitled to cast a single vote by secret ballot. The main polling station and the central counting station are both located at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

A candidate must obtain more than 600 valid votes to win.The other two contenders for the city's top post include Leung Chun-ying, former convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, Albert Ho, a lawmaker who is also head of a local political party, and Henry Tang, former chief secretary of the city government. Incumbent Chief Executive Donald Tsang, whose term ends on June 30 this year, is barred from seeking a third term.

The result of the first-round voting is expected to be unveiled at around 1 p.m.

Should there be a need for more than one round of voting, the second and third round of voting will be scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. respectively on Sunday, according to the Commission.

The chief executive heads the government and makes policy, signs budgets and appoints, removes and disciplines all officials, including the Executive Council, which the chief executive consults on policy and bills.The elected chief executive will then be appointed by the central government.