Ex-chief secretary seeks platform to fight for democracy
Anson Chan Fang On-sang yesterday threw her hat into the ring for December's Legislative Council by-election, and said the popular mandate she stands to win would give her a better platform to push for universal suffrage. She admitted she did not think Beijing wanted her to run.
Her formal announcement is likely to set up a high-level clash with former security secretary Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee. Sources close to Mrs Ip said she would probably run, and would play up what she sees as the inability of Mrs Chan and the pan-democrats to communicate with the central government.
Announcing her maiden Legco campaign, Mrs Chan, 67, admitted that her core group of advisers, set up a year ago to speed up democratisation, had not had the desired results.
'Without a platform, your views will be brushed aside by Beijing and the SAR government,' she said.
'What I have seen is that democracy has been delayed again and again and people feel helpless. I want people to realise that they can shape their own destiny but everything depends on their speaking up. So I have come to the conclusion that I need to put my money where my mouth is.
