Democrat stalwart fares poorly in poll
Former chairman comes in last of six candidates in August party survey
Former Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum could be on the verge of losing his Hong Kong Island seat in next year's Legislative Council elections, a poll by the party indicates.
The results, which surprised party members, ranked Dr Yeung at the bottom of six potential candidates, with party elder statesman Martin Lee Chu-ming third behind the Civic Party's Audrey Eu Yuet-mee and former security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
The position of the two Democratic Party stalwarts could be even more precarious because the poll - taken in late August after the death of former Democratic Alliance chairman Ma Lik - did not take into account former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who had yet to declare herself a candidate in the by-election for Ma's seat.
The poll was held to assess prospects for next year after Ma, a directly elected legislator on Hong Kong Island, died of cancer in Guangzhou on August 8. Mrs Chan announced her candidacy for the by-election on September 11.
A source familiar with the poll said core members of the party were surprised by the findings, which not only put the two party stalwarts outside the top positions, but also ranked Dr Yeung at the bottom.
Another party member said anyone who was on the 'edge of the cliff' was in a much more perilous position than the poll indicated because Mrs Chan was not counted.
Interviewees were asked how they would rank 10 names given to them if the 2008 Legislative Council election was going to be held the following day.
Behind Ms Eu, Mrs Ip and Mr Lee were Liberal Party vice-chairwoman and Legco House Committee chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee, DAB legislator Choy So-yuk and Dr Yeung.
All but Mrs Ip are incumbent legislators.
Mrs Lau represents the transport functional constituency, but is understood to be seriously considering running for direct election on Hong Kong Island.
The Democratic Party member said the party could split to two lists for next year's election, one led by Mr Lee and one by their close ally Mrs Chan, whom Dr Yeung would follow.
The member said this might be a way of saving Dr Yeung's seat, and pointed to the heavy role he was playing as a strategist in Mrs Chan's by-election campaign.
Mr Lee and Dr Yeung were on the same list in the 2004 election, which saw sitting pro-democracy legislator Cyd Ho Sau-lan lose to Ms Choy after the Democratic Party pair made a last-minute appeal for support.
Meanwhile, the row over Mr Lee's article in The Wall Street Journal urging US President George W. Bush to use the Beijing Olympics to press for human rights in the mainland, is reverberating in party circles.
Some members who are running in the upcoming district council elections say privately they fear the row - which saw some pro-Beijing figures brand Mr Lee a traitor - could affect the party's chances in these and the Legco elections.
Government officials, however, say that while Mr Lee might lose some votes, it would not be enough to unseat him.
