Hong Kong - Anson Chan, a former number two in the Hong Kong government, made a formal bid Monday to become a candidate in December's legislative election. Chan, who is running on a pro-democracy ticket, was the chief secretary in Britain's last colonial government headed by governor Chris Patten.
She lodged nomination documents to take part in the Hong Kong Island by-election after securing the minimum of 100 supporters required under the territory's election rules.
Among Chan's rivals is former security minister Regina Ip.
But the sincerity of Chan's bid has been questioned after she left a pro-democracy march early on October 7 to visit a hairdressing salon.
The election on December 2 will fill the Legislative Council seat made vacant by the death of lawmaker Ma Lik on August 22. Ma was chairman of the pro-China Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
