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

Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, fulfills journalists as he formally retires following the company’s Yearly Standard Assembly in Hong Kong, China Could 10, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s sole management candidate John Lee has picked virtually 150 heavyweights, including the city’s richest gentleman Li Ka-shing and other powerful businessmen and politicians, to be part of his advisory groups to display wide help for his bid.

Lee, the previous No.2 official of the Asian economic hub, is set to swap Chief Govt Carrie Lam on July 1 with backing from Beijing.

“The members have rich expertise and contribution to the culture…they will be practical to the platform drafting and other function in the upcoming,” Lee’s marketing campaign workplace director Tam Yiu-chung instructed reporters on Wednesday.

Lee is predicted to announce his platform afterwards this thirty day period, media reviews mentioned, forward of the election on May possibly 8.

Given that Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, there have been 4 main executives, all of whom have struggled to balance the democratic aspirations of some residents 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.

Among Lee’s 58-member campaign advisory crew are the city’s biggest residence tycoons, which includes CK Asset’s (1113.HK) Li Ka-shing, Henderson Land Development’s (0012.HK) Lee Shau Kee, Sunlight Hung Kai Properties’ (0016.HK) Raymond Kwok and New Globe Development’s (0017.HK) Henry Cheng.

Other advisers contain previous Environment Wellbeing Group director normal Margaret Chan, chairman of electricity company CLP Holdings (0002.HK) Michael Kadoorie, and on line casino magnate Lui Che-woo.

Aside from the advisory crew that serves a honorary position, there is also a 90-member presidium that Lee is consulting to draft his platform.

The presidium contains former Hong Kong chief secretary and a standing committee member of China’s prime advisory overall body the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Henry Tang, business magnate Allan Zeman, previous director of General public Prosecutions Grenville Cross, former chief government of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) (0388.HK) Charles Li, as effectively as motion picture star Jackie Chan.

Lee has secured 786 nominations from the 1,500 customers of the election committee in demand of deciding on Hong Kong’s new chief, increased than the 188 nominations required to run.

A previous occupation law enforcement officer, Lee is extensively expected to prioritise protection issues if he will get the top occupation, having beforehand urged new legislation to absolutely employ a sweeping countrywide stability legislation Beijing imposed on the metropolis in 2020.

Lee said he will be the conductor to “a new symphony” early this thirty day period when he declared his candidacy. He reported loyalty to China’s central federal government was a priority for any chief govt and section of his platform will consist of accelerating plans to resolve the city’s long-term housing lack. go through additional

Reporting by Clare Jim Modifying by Kim Coghill

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