Tsang poised to lead Hong Kong

Hong Kong's interim chief executive Donald Tsang is on course to be the next permanent chief after chairman of the pro-business Liberal Party James Tien announced he would not run for the post after consulting Beijing, which he said favors Tsang, the Wall Street Journal reported. Tien's announcement led other hopefuls to withdraw from the election, a process that entails voting by an 800-member committee that essentially rubberstamps Beijing's top choice.