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Jimmy Cheung

Former KCRC chief approached to run in Kowloon West
Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun  is being lobbied to run for a Legislative Council seat in Kowloon West as part of a Liberal Party electoral revamp to maximise its support in the geographical polls.
The party is also seriously considering fielding Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee  to stand in Hong Kong Island while Miriam Lau Kin-yee  may run in New Territories West, according to informed sources.
Mr Tien, brother of Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun,  had a surprise win in the National People's Congress local deputy election last month.
He also won public sympathy when senior staff of the former KCRC  tried to force him out in a highly publicised management feud in 2006.
The approach to Michael Tien to stand in Kowloon West in the September election comes after the formerly four-seat constituency was given another seat to cope with the rising population.
An internal party poll showed Mr Tien, who is not a member, had considerable support when ranked against other new faces eyeing the constituency.
Mr Tien said yesterday he would not comment on his possible  candidacy at this stage.
'I am considering how to carry forward my work as an NPC deputy at this stage. I haven't considered [a Legco seat] yet,' he said. Asked whether he would not rule out the possibility, he said, 'No possibility can be ruled out. But if you ask me today, my reply is no comment.'
An informed source confirmed that the former KCRC chief had been approached to stand, but said a final decision had yet to be made.
Another source said the party believed  Mr Tien's image and background would gain more voters' support than other possible candidates.
It is understood the Liberals are also  conducting polls to test if Ms Lau and Mrs Chow would win if they exchanged electoral bases.
Ms Lau, now representing the transport constituency, has been considering running in Hong Kong Island. She has been seen as the favoured successor to Legco president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai,  who  is not seeking re-election.
But a party source revealed that the opinion polls showed Ms Lau still lacked support in the constituency.
One of the options being considered is for her to run in the eight-seat New Territories West, where the threshold for winning a seat under the proportional representation system would be lower than in Hong Kong Island, which has six seats.
The source believed Mrs Chow, who now holds a seat in New Territories West, could win in Hong Kong Island.
'Mrs Chow has been consistently rated among the top lawmakers and executive councillors. If she enjoys support in New Territories West, we believe she stands a good chance on Hong Kong Island as well,' the source said.
But another party source expressed reservations over the swap, saying the party's support in Hong Kong Island had been weak, and noting that Mrs Chow was still embroiled in controversy over alleged mismanagement and lavish spending by the Tourism Board, which she formerly headed.



Liberals lobby Michael Tien to enter race for Legco seat