A decision not to invite Regina Tong Ching-yee, the wife of the new chief executive, to be the president of the Red Cross was not political, the organisation said, even though its past two presidents were married to the city's leaders.
A Chinese-language newspaper said Tong was shunned because some council members did not like her husband, Leung Chun-ying, since his style was too 'ruthless'. Some said they would resign if Tong took the post, the report said.
Former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's wife, Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei, and Tung Chee-hwa's wife, Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping, both served as president of the organisation.
Retired judge Ti-liang Yang, who has been Red Cross chairman for 14 years, took over from Selina Tsang on Sunday.
Many NGOs traditionally appoint leaders' wives to be their patrons or presidents. The Community Chest has appointed Tong as president, after Selina Tsang. The Girl Guides Association has also sent an invitation to Tong.
Red Cross secretary general Chan Kai-ming said the organisation had no rules saying the wife of the chief executive should be appointed as president. 'We regret that some people take it as a political decision. It's very important for the Red Cross to be politically neutral. We struggled in the meeting over whether our decision would be perceived politically,' Chan said.