Escaped Croc named Personality of the Year

Hong Kong - An escaped crocodile which ran loose on the Hong Kong-China border for more than two months has been named Hong Kong's Personality Of The Year 2003.

The 1.5-metre crocodile, believed to be an escaped pet, beat a host of politicians and celebrities to win the contest on government-run radio station RTHK.

Australian crocodile hunter John Lever and a team of experts from China have failed in repeated high-profile attempts to trap the creature since early November.

The crocodile won nearly 36% of the online vote, ahead of Hong Kong hospital workers in collective second place with 25%.

Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa attracted less than 5% of the vote.

The name of the competition was changed from Person of the Year to Personality of the Year after the crocodile won from a shortlist of 19 nominees.

"We only put the crocodile on as a bit of fun," said RTHK presenter Hugh Chiverton. "We didn't realise it was going to sweep the board.

"I suppose it is the way he has evaded everyone that has made him so popular. He has got away with it and it has made him a kind of people's champion." -- Annanova News

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