Another member of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's team has launched a veiled attack on newly elected legislator Anson Chan Fang On-sang, dismissing claims she has made of a link between democracy and people's livelihoods. Leung Chun-ying, convenor of the Executive Council, said: 'We don't necessarily need 'one person, one vote' or some form of democracy before we can improve people's livelihoods. 'The purpose of democracy is not just for developing livelihood. Democracy is our social value as well as a universal value,' he said. 'To link democracy with livelihood and develop democracy for the sake of livelihood, I think such an interpretation is way too low.' Mrs Chan has said democracy and livelihoods are inseparable. Mr Leung also responded to criticism of the former chief secretary by Tsang Tak-sing, the home affairs chief, at a Legislative Council meeting last week. 'Before 1997, the chief secretary at that time also stared with piercing eyes and attacked lawmakers for working against the government during Legco meetings. Yet there wasn't much public concern like during the past few days,' Mr Leung said after a public function. Last Wednesday the home affairs secretary branded Mrs Chan a 'sudden democrat' and a person who 'suddenly cares about people's livelihoods'. Mr Leung said such debate in Legco was just a manifestation of democracy and pluralism. In an ATV Newsline programme last night, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who was defeated by Mrs Chan in the Legco by-election, said debate in Legco should not involve personal insults or extreme language. But she would not comment on whether Mr Tsang had gone overboard in his remarks. She said accusations of being 'sudden democrats' made against her and Mrs Chan were understandable given their civil- service backgrounds. Speaking at the City Forum on the Legco by-election yesterday, Democrat legislator Yeung Sum urged mainland officials not to miss the opportunity to bolster relations with pan-democrats. 'Mrs Chan's plea for communication is sincere and she could play the ambassador role. I hope Chinese officials will not miss the message.' Echoing the view, Chan Kin-man, associate professor of sociology at Chinese University, said: 'I hope Beijing appreciates that pan-democrats will continue to exist in Hong Kong. The emergence of a moderate figure clearly has positive impact.' However, Lau Kong-wah, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, dismissed claims that Mrs Chan could breathe fresh air into the political landscape. 'This was just a by-election. Please don't make it a myth and exaggerate Mrs Chan's ability.'