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SCMP Reporter

Retreat of Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai to spark battle for her seat

Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai  yesterday made her expected announcement that she will not stand for the Legislative Council next year, heralding a fierce battle for her Hong Kong Island seat and opening the way for the first new Legco president since the handover.

Mrs Fan  said that as she had made a decision, there was no point in delaying the announcement and that an early announcement might aid the preparations of those thinking about running for the six  island seats.

Her decision leaves up for grabs 65,661 voters who backed her in 2004.

Liberal Party member and House Committee chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee  and former security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee  have been touted as likely to benefit most from Mrs Fan's retreat from the political stage, as they could appeal to the same voters.

Yesterday both insisted they had yet to decide on plans for the 2008 elections, while also making veiled pitches about their suitability for replacing Mrs Fan as a lawmaker and  president.

Mrs Fan  said she had told both Mrs Ip and Ms Lau her decision the day before yesterday and did not rule out helping with the campaign of a particular candidate.

She served as a legislator between 1983 and 1992 and as an executive councillor between 1989 and 1992, but stepped down from both positions in 1992 in reaction to then governor Chris Patten's  political reform proposals.

'When I returned to this stage [in 1997 as president of the appointed provisional legislature], I said I was doing so to help a smooth transition. Now, 10 years have passed and I think the SAR is standing firmly and doing well. There's no longer concern about a smooth transition,' she said yesterday, adding that it was time for someone with a different style and more youthful vigour to take over as president.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum and Chief Secretary  Henry Tang Ying-yen  all heaped praise on Mrs Fan's service, saying she had always enforced the rules of procedure in Legco objectively and earned the respect of all her colleagues.

Mrs Fan has consistently received  high public support ratings  among lawmakers in  polls.

Ms Lau said it was too early to discuss the 'head-to-head' battle in the Hong Kong Island constituency since the Liberal Party had not yet decided who should run for those seats. She also said she had yet to decide whether to run for president, which would be decided by an election among  the newly returned lawmakers.

But she dismissed any suggestion her party affiliation might conflict with the president's role. 'Once you are in the role of president, your considerations are based on the rules of procedure. You think from a completely different perspective,' she said.

'I feel very fortunate to have experience as an acting president.   I believe that experience will assist me in many future endeavours, if I should, and I emphasise if I should, run for the presidency,' said Ms Lau.

Mrs Ip said Mrs Fan's decision would not affect her plans since she had always been interested in running for election, but had not yet made a firm decision. Should she run, she said she  hoped to be a natural replacement for Mrs Fan.

'There are a lot of commonalities between Mrs Fan and I.  We were  working wives and now widows. We both attach a lot of importance to traditional family values.'

Rita Fan's political career

1983-92 Legislative councillor

1989-92 Executive councillor

1990-92 Chairwoman of the Education Commission

1992 Ousted from the Executive Council by  governor Chris Patten and resigned from  the Legislative Council in opposition to  his political reform proposals

1993-95 Sat on the Preliminary Working Committee of the Preparatory Committee

1995-97 Member of the Preparatory Committee

1997-98 President of the Provisional Legislative Council

1998-  President of the Legislative Council;  deputy to the  NPC

2004 Won a Legco seat in Hong Kong Island through direct election



It's official - president will not run for Legco next year