TAIPEI, June 14 - Hung Hsiu-chu, the only contender for the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party's primary Taiwan leadership bid, passed the required support in public polls with an average rating of 46.2 percent.

The results, which were released by KMT Secretary-General Lee Shu-chuan on Sunday morning, are based on three polls conducted by different pollsters on Friday and Saturday, with each required to collect 1,200 valid samples.

Hung, deputy head of the island's legislature, had to secure at least 30 percent support in the polls, otherwise the party will look for another candidate, according to KMT regulations.

Hung's nomination still has to be confirmed by a convention of KMT party delegates next month.

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has endorsed the candidacy of its chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen for the 2016 election on April 15.