After announcing her bid, Ms Chan explains that people’s desire for greater democracy should be given a greater voice. She is set to propose how to implement universal suffrage and is open to a dialogue with Beijing. She is highly critical of existing governmental system. The central government and its local proxies react with caution.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In Hong Kong “"I have seen [. . .] that democracy has been delayed again and again and people feel helpless. I want people to realise that they can shape their own destiny but everything depends on their speaking up. So I have come to the conclusion that I need to put my money where my mouth is,” said Anson Chan Fang On-sang as she explained her reasons to run for a seat on the Legislative Council (LegCo).

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Ms Chan said that for Hong Kong the “opportunity is one that I cannot let go.” Her platform will focus on constitutional reform and universal suffrage since both are needed to ensure worthwhile co-operation and a basis for dialogue with Beijing.

She said she had informed the central government of her decision through informal channels, even though Beijing might have preferred to see her stay out of the race.

She will run as an independent but will work with pro-democracy forces.

Chief secretary under British rule and then for some years under Chinese rule, she is critical of Hong Kong’s chief executive, who in her opinion, should take “a more robust stand in defending the ‘one country, two systems' model, acting as a buffer and communication channel” with the central government.

Hong Kong residents want universal suffrage, which mainland China promised to introduce when it negotiated the return of the Crown Colony from the United Kingdom, but everyone is concerned about how the local government will present local demands. As they stand, current proposals are bound to delay the final implementation of universal suffrage for years to come.

Reactions in Beijing are guarded. A government spokesperson simply stated that Ms Chan has the right to run.

Also cautious is Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a former secretary for security and Ms Chan’s probable opponent in the upcoming by-election, who simply said that she was “seriously considering running in the election.”

Ms Ip won’t be alone in her fight. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong is widely tipped to back her election bid. But it won’t be easy.

"We are prepared to face a tough battle in the election,” said party chairman Tam Yiu-chung, conscious of what lay ahead.

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