Tears flow from Regina Ip, tipped as 'chief executive hopeful', after failing to cast Hong Kong reform vote

There was no shortage of emotion yesterday as two usually tough-talking pro-Beijing lawmakers shed tears in public over their parts in the walkout drama at the Legislative Council chamber the day before.

One of them was New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who kept a stiff upper lip in public even when she was forced to step down as security chief in 2003 after a massive backlash against her push for national security legislation.

The other was Business and Professionals Alliance vice-chairman Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a key organiser of the walkout that left just eight pro-Beijing lawmakers to vote for the proposal.

"I think the central government must be very disappointed. I also feel very sad. I didn't sleep well yesterday. I have worked hard for 20 months, and I really wanted to cast this vote," a sobbing Ip said on Commercial Radio yesterday. "I really believe that it would be beneficial for Hong Kong if everyone had a vote" for chief executive.

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Ip admitted she had failed to live up to her supporters' expectations. Asked if she would still run for chief executive, she replied: "I do not have time to think about this now. The situation is chaotic at the moment."