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SCMP Reporter

Ex-security chief 'seriously considering running in election'

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee,  the most likely rival to Anson Chan Fang On-sang  in the by-election for the Hong Kong Island constituency, said yesterday her decision would not be affected by Mrs Chan's candidacy.

Responding to Mrs Chan's declaration of her candidacy,  Mrs Ip indicated that who the opponent was would not affect her decision.

'I am seriously considering running in the election,' the former secretary for security said. 'I will pay my utmost efforts regardless of who the candidates are and I hope to have an opportunity to serve Hong Kong citizens.'

Mrs Ip, chairwoman of the Savantas Policy Institute,  stressed that a chance to win the seat should not be a factor  when she considered whether to run. She  has yet to formally declare her intention to  contest the December by-election.

A source close to Mrs Ip said she would not make an announcement this week, as she was still conducting an opinion poll to test her popularity among voters in the constituency.

The source said there was no urgency for Mrs Ip to announce her candidacy, as the nomination period would begin next month.

Sources close to the  Beijing-friendly camp said the chances of Mrs Ip standing in the by-election were still very high, as the former security chief could afford to lose.

'Regina is still the most appropriate candidate to represent the pro-government camp in the by-election at the moment,' a  source close to Beijing said, adding that the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office would adjust its strategy.

The source said Beijing wanted an articulate person who could match  Mrs Chan  and debate with the former chief secretary in the by-election so as to  discuss the best way to handle  ties between Hong Kong and the central government.

'We want to bring up the important issue of whether the pan-democratic camp  can cultivate good ties with Beijing,' the source said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, which is widely tipped to back Mrs Ip's election bid,  decided last night to invite  her to a meeting of the party's central committee scheduled for next Tuesday at which Mrs Ip would seek to convince the party to support her candidacy.

Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan,  Young DAB chairman, and Eastern District councillor Christopher Chung Shu-kun  would also seek the party's support at the meeting.

DAB vice-chairman Ip Kwok-him  said the party was likely to decide which candidate it would back in the by-election at next Tuesday's meeting. Party chairman Tam Yiu-chung  said the favoured candidate's chances of winning the seat and the need to promote new blood within the party were both important factors the party would consider. 'We are prepared to face a tough battle in the election,' Mr Tam said.

But a core DAB member said the candidate's chance of winning  was the most crucial factor when they considered whom to support to run in the election.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Liberal Party reiterated its support for Mrs Ip and expected Mrs Chan's participation would make the by-election a close battle.

Putting her money where her mouth is

Selected quotes from Anson Chan's speech

For me, this is a defining moment. It is an opportunity to put to the test all those values I hold dear

Civil servants should learn the way of democracy, while the pan-democrats should learn the way of good governance

There are times when if you do not grasp [opportunities], they will just go and not return

Facing 600,000 voters in a oneperson, one-vote election and a small-circle election with just 800 people are as far apart as heaven and Earth



Anson Chan's decision won't  sway me, says Regina Ip