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Non-stop fighter still finds time for family

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Sitting in his office at the Legislative Council, Martin Lee Chu-ming, 67, seriously contemplates the prospect of dropping out of the political limelight to spend more time with his family.

'In 2008 it's very likely that I will quit [the Legislative Council]. I will be 70 by then - though I don't feel that old. But you can't keep doing it until you die.'

Thinking back on how his career has affected his family, Mr Lee adds: 'In 1985, during my first election, my son Joey was four. One day he looked at the newspaper and said to me: 'Henry Lytton [political rival] and daddy BANG!' He was telling me to beat him up.

'Three years later in Hawaii on holiday, I was waiting to see if anyone would run against me in the election. My son said he wanted someone to run and to defeat me so I could spend more time with him. In just three years so much had changed.'

This summer, his 23-year-old son surprised the legislator by planning a family trip to Switzerland. Unable to book a cruise, his son planned an extensive train trip.

The holiday was full of disasters - they were stranded at the airport for 14 hours and Mrs Lee's luggage was lost for five days. But Mr Lee was still happy.

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