Hong Kong’s elite join leadership candidate’s campaign as Beijing watches

Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, satisfies journalists as he formally retires right after the firm’s Annual Standard Meeting in Hong Kong, China Could 10, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s sole management prospect John Lee has picked virtually 150 heavyweights, such as the city’s richest person Li Ka-shing and other powerful businessmen and politicians, to be a part of his advisory groups to clearly show broad assist for his bid.

Lee, the previous No.2 formal of the Asian economical hub, is established to substitute Chief Government Carrie Lam on July 1 with backing from Beijing.

“The users have abundant practical experience and contribution to the culture…they will be helpful to the system drafting and other do the job in the potential,” Lee’s marketing campaign workplace director Tam Yiu-chung instructed reporters on Wednesday.

Lee is envisioned to announce his system later on this thirty day period, media reviews explained, forward of the election on Could 8.

Due to the fact Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, there have been 4 main executives, all of whom have struggled to harmony the democratic aspirations of some citizens with the vision of China’s Communist leaders.

All of the city’s leaders have been backed by Beijing and chosen by an “election committee” stacked with Beijing loyalists.

Amongst Lee’s 58-member marketing campaign advisory staff are the city’s most important home tycoons, such as CK Asset’s (1113.HK) Li Ka-shing, Henderson Land Development’s (0012.HK) Lee Shau Kee, Sunshine Hung Kai Properties’ (0016.HK) Raymond Kwok and New Planet Development’s (0017.HK) Henry Cheng.

Other advisers incorporate previous Environment Health Corporation director typical Margaret Chan, chairman of electrical power corporation CLP Holdings (0002.HK) Michael Kadoorie, and casino magnate Lui Che-woo.

Apart from the advisory workforce that serves a honorary position, there is also a 90-member presidium that Lee is consulting to draft his system.

The presidium includes previous Hong Kong main secretary and a standing committee member of China’s top rated advisory system the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Henry Tang, business enterprise magnate Allan Zeman, former director of General public Prosecutions Grenville Cross, previous chief govt of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) (0388.HK) Charles Li, as nicely as motion picture star Jackie Chan.

Lee has secured 786 nominations from the 1,500 users of the election committee in demand of selecting Hong Kong’s new chief, greater than the 188 nominations demanded to operate.

A former vocation police officer, Lee is extensively expected to prioritise stability difficulties if he gets the top work, acquiring earlier urged new legislation to entirely apply a sweeping national safety regulation Beijing imposed on the metropolis in 2020.

Lee stated he will be the conductor to “a new symphony” early this thirty day period when he announced his candidacy. He stated loyalty to China’s central govt was a priority for any chief government and element of his system will consist of accelerating plans to resolve the city’s chronic housing lack. examine more

Reporting by Clare Jim Modifying by Kim Coghill

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