There is no apparent front-runner in a leadership contest in Hong Kong as a nomination period begins on Sunday.

The election to choose a chief executive is held every five years. Voting was originally scheduled to take place on March 27 but was postponed to May 8 due to a surge in the number of coronavirus infections.

Around 1,500 election committee members, who are mostly pro-Beijing, vote on candidates who have a sufficient number of pledges from among them.

So far, no one who has enough pledges has given an indication of intending to run. Incumbent Chief Executive Carrie Lam has not said if she would seek a second term.

Observers say the election may be postponed for a second time but Lam's term will expire at the end of June.

Hong Kong media speculate that a person with the backing of the Beijing government would emerge as the only candidate before the nomination period ends on April 16 and that the committee would vote to approve the candidate.