Democrats unveil the art of change While observers generally believe that the lack of election issues means the focus in this year's Legislative Council poll is on image rather than platform, the Democratic Party yesterday announced its detailed policy plan: it focused on inflation, youth and the elderly. Democrat chief election strategist Law Chi-kwong admitted that with constitutional reform no longer a burning issue, the party was shifting its attention to other areas such as arts and culture policy. 'But as the Democratic Party, of course, we have to pledge support for universal suffrage by 2012.' Calmer waters reported in New Territories The New Territories political battleground has looked much calmer since Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat and vice-chairman Daniel Lam Wai-keung settled their candidacies in the kuk and district council functional constituencies respectively. The onslaughts by kuk members on the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong have ceased. Tang Sing-wah, a veteran consultant of the kuk who lambasted the DAB for 'excreting over New Territories people's heads' three weeks ago, said yesterday he would canvass for the New Territories West ticket led by DAB chairman Tam Yiu-chung and kuk vice-chairman Cheung Hok-ming. Mr Tang, along with Mr Lau and some other rural community leaders, were in fact among those who had nominated the DAB team. Asked about the apparent contradiction, he explained: 'I wasn't referring to the whole DAB at the kuk meeting, but I was discontented with [DAB vice-chairman] Ip Kwok-him.' Tanya Chan runs into long arms of the law Those who worry about Hong Kong's security during the Olympics should feel safe after learning about the efficiency of Hong Kong's Finest. When Hong Kong Island candidate Tanya Chan's supporters laid a large poster with the words 'missing person' above Ms Chan's picture on the piazza of Times Square in Causeway Bay on Friday, about three hours ahead of the Games' opening ceremony, three policemen quickly arrived to check out the case. They concluded, as readers might imagine, that it was a publicity gimmick by the actress-politician. New proof that week is long time in politics In politics, the line between friends and enemies is never certain. Accountancy sector lawmaker Mandy Tam Heung-man was attacked by three challengers at an election forum last week, but then last night was joined by rivals Wong Wang-tai and Ronald Kung Yiu-fai in taking her revenge on rival Paul Chan Mo-po. After she accused Mr Chan, the former Institute of Certified Public Accountants president, of suppressing her voice during his term, Mr Wong added that Mr Chan had not consulted members on the dispute between the institute and Ms Tam over the mailing of her newsletters in 2006. And Mr Kung, a council member of the institute, criticised Mr Chan for not taking part in the discussion relating to the case. Mr Chan, who several times paused before responding to his aggressive rivals, concluded: 'They don't have integrity and capability and only know political rhetoric.' Another candidate, Francis Yim Ting-wai, was absent from both forums. Doctor finds himself lost for words Doctor Lo Wing-lok was expected to shine in a forum organised for elderly residents of Hong Kong Island, but lost his voice street campaigning the night before. Instead lawyer Siu Man-wah offered some eccentric medical advice. She suggested pearl powder eye drops for cataracts and acupuncture for numb legs - before advertising the herbal tea she was fond of for overall health. Noticing Dr Lo's poorly disguised disbelief, she sniped: 'If you can't even heal your own hoarse voice, how can you help the aged?' But the standout personality of the occasion was not one of the candidates. Lee Kwai-tin, the 77-year-old master of ceremonies, was sharp and quick-witted in dictating the rhythm of the forum. And judging by her ability to whip up a fervent response from the crowd, perhaps it is she who would be best suited to represent the elderly in the legislature.