Ma's death to spark battle for his Legco seat

The death of DAB leader Ma Lik from colon cancer yesterday has opened the way for a battle for his Legco seat between the pan-democratic and Beijing loyalist camps.

Hours after the death of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairman, former legislator Cyd Ho Sau-lan confirmed she would stand in the Hong Kong Island constituency by-election and appealed to the pan-democratic camp to support her.

Beijing loyalist sources said former security secretary Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee was also likely to stand. Mrs Ip, who yesterday paid tribute to Mr Ma, said it was an inappropriate time to discuss the by-election, which must be held within four months. Many regard it as a prelude to next year's Legislative Council election.

Mr Ma's death at 55 also leaves open the party chairmanship, with vice-chairmen Ip Kwok-him and Lau Kong-wah possible candidates.

Mr Ma cared about Hong Kong and the party 'until the last moment of his life', the DAB said in a statement announcing his death at 2pm at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou. His wife, Leung Wai-ching, his mother and other relatives were at his bedside.

Friends and colleagues described Mr Ma, DAB chairman since 2003, as a 'frank and dedicated' person.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who visited Mr Ma two weeks ago, said he was a 'committed political leader' and that the DAB had become a 'close partner of the government' under his leadership.