Liberals bide their time in nominations scramble In the rush to register nominations for next month's district council elections, one major party has been conspicuous by its absence. But far from shunning one person, one vote, the Liberal Party says its 60-plus troops are not yet ready for nominations, as they are still awaiting delivery of custom-made sashes for candidates to wear and leaflets hot off the press. 'We insist on waiting until we are all ready. We want to give a unified new look this time, so it takes a bit of time,' said party legislator Howard Young. The party said it never wanted to compete for early-bird publicity anyway and plans to sign up next week. An official launch ceremony is scheduled for October 14, the eve of the two-week nomination period closing. Anson Chan proves well-versed on motivation Friends and former civil service colleagues of Anson Chan Fang On-sang still puzzled over why she changed her mind to run in the Legislative Council by-election now have an answer - poetry. It is an open secret that Mrs Chan had grave reservations about running when the idea was first floated by some Democrat friends. But now she has told the South China Morning Post that the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost had an impact on her decision. Recalling her struggle to reach a decision, she said: 'This verse came to me. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. I don't want to have any regrets. I have had none so far.' The last part of the poem reads: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. Civil service union has James Tien in its sights With nominations being lodged for the district council polls, the largest civil service union has issued a timely reminder in its magazine, urging its 100,000 members to distinguish between friend and foe at the ballot box. In a provocative editorial entitled 'James Tien - working for XX [sic] party's interest?' the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association lamented that repeated criticism of government pay rises by the business-affiliated leader would split civil servants and the public. 'Fellow unions and colleagues should seriously consider why some parties and lawmakers would curry favour with civil servants, or lash out at them with great effort,' it said. No confusion about Confucian celebration With tens of thousands expected to march from Victoria Park on Sunday in support of universal suffrage, Beijing loyalists have been mobilising supporters to attend celebration activities at around the same time. The Confucian Academy will host a ceremony at Hong Kong Stadium in honour of Confucius' birthday, including attractions such as traditional Confucian dancers from the mainland and a performance by pop singers. Academy president Tong Yun-kai said the event would not 'steal' participants from the pan-democrats' protest. But he wanted to invite Legco by-election candidates Anson Chan, who will be in Victoria Park, and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who will be attending to campaign-related activities, to join the ceremony. 'I have also invited all political parties. Rather than concerning themselves with partisan politics, I hope they will all learn from Confucius to work for Hong Kong's harmony,' Mr Tong said.