Hong Kong's Anson Chan to contest legislative poll

HONG KONG, Sep 11 (Reuters) One of Hong Kong's most popular public figures said today she would contest a December by-election, a move likely to fluster Beijing and re-invigorate calls for direct elections by 2012.

Anson Chan, a former Chief Secretary who ran Hong Kong's civil service during the 1997 transition from British to Chinese rule and who retired in 2001, has long resisted calls from her supporters to assume a more influential public role.

But appearing before reporters, Chan, 67, said it was now a ''defining moment'' to seek this new political platform to make her voice more effectively heard in the push for direct elections.

''I need to put my money where my mouth is,'' she told reporters of her support for universal suffrage.

''This opportunity is one that I cannot let go,'' she added of her maiden bid for elected office in the 60-seat legislature.

Chan, dubbed ''Hong Kong's conscience'' for her moral authority, will contest a December 2 by-election to fill the legislative seat left vacant by the death of Ma Lik, the former head of Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing party.

Chan, who enjoys high popularity ratings -- is expected to sweep the direct poll on Hong Kong island, though she could face a challenge from another politically ambitious former civil servant, Regina Ip.

Hong Kong's mini-constitution promises direct elections as the ''ultimate aim'' but is vague on a timetable, giving Beijing scope to dictate the pace of progress.

While Beijing hasn't ruled out a target of 2012, recent comments by pro-Beijing figures suggest China's communist leaders are cold on the idea, preferring 2017 at the earliest.

At present, half the legislature is directly elected, while the remaining 30 seats are elected by narrow professional sectors called functional constituencies.

FRESH MOMENTUM Calls for greater political freedoms have sparked mass protests in recent years, although Beijing has launched a propaganda drive in recent months to dampen public expectations and dished out economic sweeteners that've helped the economy boom.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp which has at times struggled with infighting and sagging public interest toward an ongoing public consultation on political reform, said Chan could bring fresh momentum and unity to their cause.

''(She will) boost the morale of the whole democracy camp,'' said Albert Ho, the Chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party.

Ho added the by-election would now become a ''symbolic battle'' pitting those fighting for and against direct votes in 2012.

Chan herself hoped her candidacy would rekindle interest in the public consultation on reform-- in helping coalesce a ''mainstream'' framework for direct elections ultimately acceptable to Beijing.

''At the moment, the reaction to the green paper has been one of resigned indifference. I want to make Hong Kong people feel that they have a role and they can shape the future of constitutional reforms,'' Chan said, referring to the public consultation.

REUTERS PJ AS1221