Anson Chan 'may have affected game plan' of democracy march

Members of the pro-democracy camp yesterday stepped up their assault on former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang over her participation in the Sunday march, with one suggesting she could be one reason Beijing refused to give a timetable for universal suffrage.

Ronny Tong Ka-wah, of the Article 45 Concern Group which was believed to be among those connected to Mrs Chan's joining the rally, said her appearance could have affected the game plan.

'There had been hopes that Beijing might make concessions over the reform timetable. But it has suddenly hardened its stance and I guess it is more or less related to Mrs Chan's joining of the march,' Mr Tong said.

He said Beijing might have conscerns about Mrs Chan's intention to take a higher profile during this sensitive time, specifically running for chief executive in 2007.

Lee Wing-tat, chairman of the Democratic Party, also questioned Mrs Chan's pro-democracy credentials, although he echoed Mr Tong's view that anyone joining the march was a friend. 'But when Anson was the chief secretary, I don't think she did anything to push for democracy,' he said.

Mr Lee said Mrs Chan still needed to prove herself if she wanted to be called a democrat, pointing to the fact she was in office when municipal councils were scrapped.