From Financial Times:
The most popular potential rival to Hong Kong’s chief executive has formally ruled out challenging the incumbent in an election next year, leaving the territory’s pro-democracy camp without an obvious opposition candidate.
Anson Chan, who served as the government’s second highest ranking official from 1993 until her retirement in 2001, formally announced at the weekend that she would not challenge chief executive Donald Tsang, who is expected to seek re-election to a five-year term in March.
While Mr Tsang’s re-appointment by an 800-member election committee will be a formality, Ms Chan’s withdrawal could spare him a hard-fought battle in the court of public opinion. Potential candidates with Ms Chan’s stature, experience and popularity are thin on the ground in Hong Kong.[Full Text]
