A candidate for the insurance industry's functional constituency seat said yesterday his professional independence would not be undermined by his political and business affiliations. Chan Yim-kwong is Liberal Party executive committee chairman and regional director of National Mutual. Announcing his candidacy for the new seat in the May elections, he said party backing was helpful in turning ideas into reality. He said having the Liberal Party behind him would make it easier for him to fight for the interests of the insurance industry. He said he was not involved in management and decision making at National Mutual. Mr Chan's platform includes early implementation of the Mandatory Provident Fund, halting the trend of rising personal injury court awards and establishing an institute to provide training. Mr Chan, 53, lost in the 1995 Legco election to Democrat Andrew Cheng Kar-foo in the finance, insurance, real estate and business services functional constituency. He lost again in the provisional legislature selection in 1996. It is understood Mr Chan will have at least three rivals. They are former Hong Kong Federation of Insurers chairmen Steven Lau Hon-keung and Alex Wong Po-hang. Asia Insurance deputy managing director Bernard Chan Chi-si, son of National People Congress' deputy Dr Robin Chan Yau-hing, is also standing. There are 192 voters in the constituency. A total of 118 nominations were received yesterday for the Election Committee sub-sector poll, bringing the total to 218. Twenty more will announce their candidacy for the information technology sub-sector today.