Despite being dogged by a scandal that sees him accused of building an illegal basement to his home, Henry Tang Ying-yen, an affluent celebrity in Hong Kong, Monday afternoon submitted his formal bid to run as Chief Executive, the city's top position.

Tang, the former chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong who resigned from his post in September 2011 to prepare for this run, has been embroiled in the scandal over an illegal underground basement, which is alleged by local media as an extravagant club, at his wife's property in Kowloon Tong. There have since been mounting calls for him to withdraw from the election.

Tang made a public apology but insisted he would stay in the race.

A Hong Kong University survey showed that more than half of Hong Kong residents felt Tang should drop out after building an unauthorized basement of around 200 square meters, according to Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao Monday.

Mandy Lai, a Hong Kong resident, said that she thought Tang's apology lacked sincerity. If Tang were elected, it might bring a very bad influence on our social ethos, she said.

Tang was also alleged to have two mistresses but he refused to comment on the scandals last year.

The first contender of Chief Executive Election is Albert Ho Chun-yan, a solicitor and member of Legislative Council of Hong Kong, submitted the formal nomination forms to the electoral authorities on February 14, with 183 nominations from the 1,200-strong election committee. Tang Ying-yen received 379 nominations.