'With over 32 years of public service experience straddling a wide spectrum of arenas, I hope I can contribute towards the further development of China by sharing the Hong Kong experience,' she told the South China Morning Post.

Mrs Law is one of many first-time contenders who have already begun canvassing votes from the 1,234-strong panel, which will return 36 Hong Kong deputies on January 25, after discussions on the procedures today.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is expected to be elected as chairman of the presidium of the election panel.

It is understood that Mrs Law will offer opinions on education, the training of talent, and anti-graft efforts on the mainland by sharing her Hong Kong experience in these areas if elected.

She also intends to step up national identity education in Hong Kong.

'So far, I have found the electioneering process enlightening, and enjoy meeting people from different sectors of the community. The election process is a learning experience which I will not regret.'

She resigned as ICAC chief in June after an Institute of Education inquiry found she had improperly interfered with academic freedom during her tenure as permanent secretary for education and manpower.

Michael Tien Puk-sun, former Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation chairman, has also announced he intends to run.

Another possible contender is solicitor Ma Ho-fai, a partner with Woo Kwan Lee & Lo. Mr Ma is chairman of the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, and a member of the Air Transport Licensing Authority, the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board, the Home Purchase Allowance Appeals Committee Panel and the Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee, according to his company website. He could not be reached yesterday.

Peter Hung Hak-hip, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association and head of Hop Hing Holdings, was also considering running for a seat, sources said.

Veteran NPC deputy Cheng Yiu-tong, who is seeking his fifth term in this month's poll, expects about 90 candidates to take part in the contest, making it the most heated campaign since the previous two polls. The elections in 2002 and 1997 attracted 78 and 72 candidates, respectively.

As an elector himself, he said he had received requests for nominations from many new contenders, including people from the business and professional sectors. Mr Cheng is running with his Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union colleagues Wong Kwok-kin and Leung Fu-wah.

Another candidate for re-election, Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, said her priority was to support incumbents, as their performance had been evident during the past five years.