Anson Chan discloses spending HK$1.8m on her election success
Former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang spent HK$1.81 million on winning her Legislative Council seat in the December by-election for Hong Kong Island.
It is not known whether Mrs Chan dipped into her own finances for the campaign, where spending was capped at HK$2 million.
In her declaration of election expenses to the Registration and Electoral Office yesterday, Mrs Chan reported receiving donations of around HK$1.3 million, including cash and services, up from HK$925,321 in mid-December when she submitted details of her election donations to the Legco secretariat.
In her summary of donations, the Democratic Party donated services valued at HK$65,840, which included the cost of public opinion polls amounting to HK$10,233 and administration expenses of HK$49,204.
Despite being a candidate representing the pan-democratic camp, the Democratic Party was the only political party from the camp to donate to Mrs Chan's campaign. However, Daisy Tong, the wife of Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah, made a cash donation of HK$50,000, while Glory Million Investment contributed HK$150,000.
Mrs Chan's aide said the company's contribution was donated by a close friend of the legislator, who wished to remain anonymous.
The company's donation was one of four six-digit donations on the list, with other large donors including Apple Daily owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and former Hang Seng Bank chairman Sir Quo-wei Lee.
Mr Lai contributed HK$200,000, while Sir Quo-wei and Lady Lee donated HK$250,000.
Hong Kong Democratic Foundation vice-chairman George Cautherley, who contributed to Alan Leong Kah-kit's unsuccessful chief executive election campaign in March, gave HK$300,000.
Payments for election advertisements amounted to HK$831,206, or 46 per cent of Mrs Chan's total election expenses. The second largest payment was HK$397,012 for rental, office expenses and transport, while she spent HK$357,850 on having pamphlets printed and HK$98,093 on handbills.
Mrs Chan spent the most among the eight candidates, with her main rival, former secretary for security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee spending HK$1.48 million and receiving donations of HK$1.5 million.
Heritage activist Ho Loy, who came fourth in the by-election, yesterday filed her election expenses of HK$120,000.
Adding it up
A breakdown of Anson Chan's election expenses
Personal expenses HK$131,574
Election meetings HK$149, 136
Agents, election assistants HK$286,664
Advertisements HK$831,206
Rent, office expenses, transport HK$397,012
Miscellaneous items HK$14,833
Total HK$1.81m
SOURCE: REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE
