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Ambrose Leung

There should be a change in the Civic Party leadership after the end of next year, as allowing new people to rise through the ranks would rejuvenate the party, Audrey Eu Yuet-mee has said.

But Ms Eu, leader of the party which was formed just over a year ago, said her wish was not related to her being recently diagnosed with a tumour in her brain.

In an interview, Ms Eu said she hoped to see a successor when her term as party leader ended by next year-end.

Several rising stars in the party, including barrister Tanya Chan Shuk-chong,  are being groomed to run in November's district council election and the Legco elections in 2008.

Ms Eu admits that while the by-election in December would be a good platform to allow party rookies to test their strength and get more experience, the party had decided not to field any candidate after considering the 'big picture' - as the pan-democrats should find the strongest candidate to contest the all-important race.

But she said she has heard voices from the party which called for revisiting that position, if former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang  did not run in the by-election.

'If it suits the overall big picture, you can be sure the Civic Party would be there to do whatever  is needed,' she said.

As for herself, while she wished to continue her work as a legislator - where it is expected that she will  stand again for the Hong Kong Island seat in the 2008 election - Ms Eu said the coincidence of discovering her illness and the by-election had led her to reflect on her decision to directly participate in politics seven years ago.

She was asked by the pan-democrats to contest a Legco by-election in 2000 - which she described as a similar situation faced by Mrs Chan.

'I can't be compared to Anson, but it was exactly the same for me seven years ago. This is the crunch time. It really is a test of her commitment, whether she is really committed to democratic principles,' Ms Eu said.



Civic Party leader looks ahead to the fresh outlook of a successor