Liberal leader Miriam Lau Kin-yee to quit after losing in direct election

Miriam Lau Kin-yee will resign as Liberal Party chairwoman after failing in her first attempt to secure a directly elected seat.

Lau, who stood on Hong Kong Island, made her decision despite an increase in her party's seats in the legislature from three to five.

"I failed to lead my party to success in the election and it's time someone else became the party's leader," she said, adding she would decide later whether to stand in the next election.

The party's executive committee will hold a meeting soon to discuss whether to accept her resignation.

Its only directly elected lawmaker, honorary chairman James Tien Pei-chun, staged a comeback in New Territories East after losing in 2008. Chung Kwok-pan won in the textiles and garment sector, and Tommy Cheung Yu-yan in catering, Vincent Fang Kang in wholesale and retail, and Frankie Yick Chi-ming in transport - were all returned unopposed.

Lau, an appointed legislator from 1988 and representative of the transport functional constituency since 1995, said she had been at a disadvantage against candidates who had run for direct election before.