The withdrawal of Exco member Henry Tang Ying-yen from the Import and Export constituency race could cost the Liberal Party a crucial vote in the first Legislative Council.
Mr Tang said yesterday: 'Yes, we will be quite close with the Democrats, both expecting to get a total of 12 to 13 seats in the first Legco. One seat will be crucial.' He believed the party would try to find another candidate.
But it was unlikely a new contender would be named when the party announced its election line-up today.
Mr Tang sent a letter to fellow Liberal Party provisional legislators explaining the move. However, it failed to dispel disappointment.
Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei, who appeared with Mr Tang at his press conference yesterday, said: 'Surely we want one more seat in the new legislature but I respect Mr Tang's personal decision.' Mr Tang's long-time friend, James Tien Pei-chun, was worried that outspoken businessmen were becoming hard to find.
He said they needed competent people willing to sacrifice their time to help make an economy-led society.
