On the evening of 1 March two Catholics sparred in the first-ever televised election debate in the run-up to the electoral college vote for Hong Kong's top job.

The position of chief executive has never been contested before. The first, Tung Che-hwa, appointed when the former British colony was returned to China, and the incumbent, Donald Tsang Kam-yuen, were lone contenders for the job. However, Alan Leong Kah-kit mounted a challenge to Mr Tsang this year when he garnered more than the required 100 nominations from the 795-strong Election Committee, made up of representatives from industry-based organisations and civic or religious bodies. This will allow him to contest the closed-door election on 25 March.

Both Mr Tsang and Mr Leong are graduates of Hong Kong's prestigious Jesuit-run Wah Yan College. While Mr Tsang is open about his faith, and is a regular at church functions, Mr Leong does not profess his Catholicism in the public arena, simply acknowledging his faith when asked.

Neither candidate referred directly to religion during the 90 minutes in front of the cameras, but Mr Leong, a long-time barrister, persistently challenged the current chief executive on social issues and on creating more space for the popular voice in government.

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