James Tien starts maiden run with uphill battle on the bus

Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun formally began his maiden battle for a directly elected Legislative Council seat yesterday and had his first taste of campaigning - squeezed in a double-decker bus stuck in heavy traffic.

Forsaking his customary Porsche to pack in with fellow candidates and hangers-on, the wealthy businessman known as 'Young Master Tien' was full of confidence, despite repeatedly complaining about the bus's lack of power on the hills.

'We believe in responding to the democratic demands, we need to go for direct elections,' said Mr Tien, whose party until now has relied on functional constituencies to maintain a Legco presence. 'This year, polls have shown our chances for New Territories East and West are very high.

'I think I have good chance to win a seat,' he said.

Mr Tien, who is running in New Territories East, went to the Sha Tin government offices, accompanied by party vice-chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee and her New Territories West running-mate Kenneth Ting Woo-shou, to file his nomination form yesterday morning.

More than 200 party supporters and leading businessmen made a mass show of support for the trio - all making their first attempt at a direct Legco election - who were flanked by family members in an emotional rally.