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Anson Chan inclined to run, say insiders

Anson Chan

Chan Fang On-sang is now 'more inclined' to run in December's Legislative Council by-election after reconsidering factors that had made her hesitate, sources close to the former chief secretary say.

Mrs Chan is expected to make a formal announcement about her intention early this week, after discussions with family members.

While she said nothing about her intentions at a public function last night, sources close to Mrs Chan said she acknowledged she would further the pro-democracy movement if she ran.

One source close to Mrs Chan said she had indicated at a meeting with advisers on Friday that she was willing to set aside her personal interests. 'My understanding was that the last hurdle was her family. I believe she is most likely to ... grasp this golden chance to get a public mandate through a popular election.'

Pan-democrats have lobbied Mrs Chan to run, believing she is the only candidate who could defeat Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, the former security chief who is expected to run with the support of Beijing loyalists.

The source said Mrs Chan understood the difficulties of pushing for democracy in her capacity as a 'common citizen', and believed that taking part in the election would provide a mandate for those seeking universal suffrage by 2012.

'If she runs, she will sweep aside all allegations that she was 'suddenly democratic' because she has put her words into action,' the source said.

If Mrs Chan did decide to run she would not take part in the pan-democrats' mechanism to select a joint candidate, the source said.

The Democratic Party has put forward Kam Nai-wai for consideration as the pan-democrats' candidate.

Former party leader Yeung Sum would not comment on whether Mr Kam might withdraw from contention. 'I hope Mrs Chan will lead the showdown of democracy versus autocracy, which is what Regina Ip represents,' he said.

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