Love and Legco don’t always mix, says the Civic Party’s Tanya Chan
Chan says life as a politician has meant sacrifices and struggle, but she has “given it everything and enjoyed it”
Tanya Chan still vividly remembers a dinner date during which she juggled endless calls from journalists and constituents while her then-boyfriend sat waiting patiently opposite her in silence as the meal turned cold.
It was an all-too-common scenario for Chan and her ex-partner when she was serving on both the district council and in the legislature at the same time.
“He never blamed me, but I felt very sorry and guilty … It was unbearable,” Chan, a barrister and former lawmaker of the Civic Party, told the Post in an interview.
“Phones back then were not smartphones or fun at all. All he could do was sit there and wait for me.”
Ultimately the demands of her heavy schedule prompted Chan to end the lengthy relationship as she did not want to “exploit” the man she loved.
Known for her upbeat, outgoing and candid character, Chan, who will turn 45 this year, admitted it was very hard for her to start or maintain a relationship in those days given her commitment to politics.
