Political stalwart set for election comeback
FORMER political heavyweight Maria Tam Wai-chu is poised to stage a political comeback in the next Legislative Council elections.
Ms Tam, an executive committee member of the Liberal Democratic Federation, is likely to contest a seat in the Election Committee to Legco in September.
The former Executive and Legislative councillor now heads the election taskforce of the federation, a pro-China political group comprised of members from various sectors.
Ms Tam was among a list of six federation candidates likely to join the fray in the September polls.
Federation vice-chairman Wong Siu-yee said: 'We hope that she will contest a seat . . . But she has yet to take a final decision.' He said Ms Tam was considering other factors including her work in the Preliminary Working Committee, and her family.
The election taskforce headed by Ms Tam was empowered at the federation general meeting on Saturday night to come up with a list of Legco candidates.
In addition to Ms Tam and Mr Wong, potential candidates include Chung Pui-lam in Kowloon West and Wong Tak-lun in the Election Committee constituency.
Chan Ming-kit and Ng Kam-chun are eyeing a seat in the nine new functional constituencies.
Mr Wong, who will battle leading unionist Lau Chin-shek in Kowloon South, admitted it would be tough.
'Lau Chin-shek has been a popular household name. But he has lost his touch with the district over a long period of time. He has not given concrete contributions to district affairs,' he said.
He said Mr Lau owed his success in the 1991 polls to his support in the Wong Tai Sin district and the June 4 factor.
Mr Wong, who was critical of political reforms orchestrated by Governor Chris Patten, denied they were contradicting themselves by participating.
