China's Olympic heroes woo pre-election Hong Kong

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China dispatched its Olympic heroes to Hong Kong on Friday for a well-timed celebratory tour that could give pro-Beijing candidates a boost before crucial September legislative elections.

The visit may also help the territory's leader, Chief Executive Donald Tsang, buck sliding public opinion ratings after a series of policy gaffes.

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, since when it city has maintained its free-wheeling business and social lifestyle.

But its politics has been largely defined along a political axis separating pro-Beijing or pro-business forces from an opposition democratic camp, seeking direct elections but weakened by scant resources and infighting.

In a repeat of 2004, when 50 Athens Summer Games champions descended on the financial centre before elections to the Legislative Council, or mini-parliament, 63 Olympians, including diver Guo Jingjing and gymnast Yang Wei, arrived in Hong Kong for three days of photo ops, Disneyland visits, banquets and sports demonstrations.

The athletes were welcomed to a big fanfare by cheering primary school children at the airport.

"The serendipity of the visit is quite good," said Michael DeGolyer, a politics analyst at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Democrats sailed to big wins in earlier polls backed by voters suspicious of Communist China but could face a sterner test on September 7 when Hong Kong votes for a new legislature.

For the pro-establishment parties, Tsang's falling ratings are a potential liability heading into the election and they have been trying to highlight links to Beijing instead.

According to some polls, Tsang's popularity is nearing the lows of his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa. Beijing eventually sacked Tung when he became more a liability than an asset.

Sixty seats will be up for grabs, 30 of which are directly elected. The rest are voted on by small, mostly commercial special interest groups called functional constituencies.

China has ruled Hong Kong under its policy of "one country, two systems". Universal suffrage was an idea the British promoted only in the dying days of colonial rule.

Hong Kong hosted the equestrian events for the Beijing Olympics which have been hailed around the world as a huge success since they ended on Sunday.

Despite being a part of China, Hong Kong's athletes competed separately.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok and John Ruwitch; Editing by Nick Macfie)