Anson Chan warns of more power for Tsang

Plan to reform ministerial system 'would consolidate chief executive's authority'

Anson Chan Fang On-sang yesterday said the concept of 'strong governance' as preached by Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was not a virtue in itself, and the government's plan to reform its ministerial system would only consolidate power in the hands of the chief executive.

While saying she would communicate with various sectors in coming up with a viable proposal, Mrs Chan urged her pro-democracy allies to 'respect' her decision not to run in next year's chief executive election - a race she said was 'quite meaningless' to her.

In her first speech since announcing her core group to push for universal suffrage and good governance, the former chief secretary said: 'I hope the pro-democracy camp can respect my personal decisions. I feel that it is a long way to walk this difficult path of democracy. On this road, different people in different times can play different roles.

'I feel that running in an election at this stage for me is quite meaningless. I could perhaps do something for the move towards democracy through the practical work of communicating with different sectors through the core group.'

She said she would communicate with business groups to convince them of the importance of their participation in politics, and would work on a proposal which could address Beijing's concerns.