Anson Chan Fang On-sang yesterday reached agreement with the pan-democrats over her participation in a selection mechanism to finalise her candidacy for the Legislative Council by-election. Mrs Chan will take part in a debate that will be open to the public. Responding to the announcement of her candidacy, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said last night the government welcomed any eligible person running in the election who had the sincerity to serve members of the public. Mr Tsang, who returned to Hong Kong after a visit to Australia and New Zealand, said the administration's duty was to ensure the election, scheduled for December 2, was conducted in a fair and open manner. Mrs Chan said she had enjoyed the second day of her maiden campaign in a direct election, but her hectic schedule and lengthy meetings had been disrupting her sleep. Speaking after her first formal meeting with 13 pan-democrat politicians and academics over the details of a mechanism which would formally endorse her candidacy, the former chief secretary said she was satisfied with the selection process. 'We all agreed that the guiding principle which must be observed was that all the arrangements and procedures must be fair and open and transparent. I am happy with the arrangement and I will be participating in the discussion or debate on the scheduled date,' she said. Wong Yuk-man, chairman of the League of Social Democrats, said after the meeting he was surprised Mrs Chan had agreed to all the conditions and arrangements of the mechanism, in which the League's vice-chairman, Lo Wing-lok, will engage in an open debate with Mrs Chan before supporters vote on their choice of candidate. The debate will be held on September 24 at the University of Hong Kong, where 10 pan-democrat groups from major political parties and other political groups will each send 30 representatives. The public will also be invited and questions taken from the floor after the debate. Pan-democrat groups' representatives will then vote on their choice of candidate. Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of the public opinion programme of the University of Hong Kong, will oversee the voting arrangements for an opinion poll to be conducted for the Hong Kong Island electorate from September 25 to September 29. The poll result would count as 50 per cent in the mechanism to decide on the final candidate. Votes by groups after the debate will count as 30 per cent, votes by pan-democrat lawmakers as 10 per cent and votes by pan-democrat district councillors as 10 per cent. The camp will then formally announce its choice of candidate, who is likely to contest the election against Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who is expected to run with support from Beijing loyalists. Yesterday, Mrs Chan stepped up formation of her campaign team and discussed strategy, but she has still to finalise members who will help her run her campaign. She will join a pan-democrat meeting tomorrow to discuss details. A source close to Mrs Ip said the former security chief would make a decision on whether to run shortly after discussions with the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong's central committee next Tuesday. The announcement of her decision could be made as early as next Wednesday, the source said.
