July 1 marchers call on Anson Chan to run again for Legco

Former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang was greeted by calls for her to seek re-election as she marched yesterday, with people saying they were counting on her to represent their interests.

After the annual protest rally she said she had taken note of the words of encouragement and 'citizens' support was one of the factors' she would consider before making her decision about the September Legislative Council election. The Hong Kong Island lawmaker had previously said she would 'give an account to the public' within a week.

It is not the first time Mrs Chan has kept her supporters guessing. She sparked widespread speculation she could run for chief executive when she joined the December 2005 march for universal suffrage. It was September 2006 before she confirmed she would not run, and pledged to serve the community instead through her core group of advisers on Hong Kong affairs, which she hoped would shape the constitutional reform agenda.

History could repeat itself with Mrs Chan's new project, the Citizen's Commission on Constitutional Development, which is preparing to announce its first events soon.

But in a Commercial Radio interview after the march, Mrs Chan sounded heartened by the show of support yesterday and urged the public to be patient.

'Many people have encouraged me to stand again. I am very happy about that. Public support is certainly part of my considerations,' she said.