Political Animal
Intrigue over Liberals' visit to liaison office
A report by the semi-official China News Service about a visit by three Liberal legislators to the central government's liaison office on Tuesday has intrigued many in political circles. It came amid rumours the party's loss of favour with Beijing was to blame, at least in part, for the defeat of its leaders, James Tien Pei-chun and Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, in the last Legislative Council elections. Yesterday, party chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee confirmed the visit, attended by more than 30 party members, had taken place. Some Legco colleagues, including Chan Kam-lam of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, agreed it was unusual. Mr Chan said: 'That is a little high-profile - quite extraordinary.' Others, including Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen and Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who severed ties with the Liberals after the election, were unsure about its significance. Mr Leung said: 'I saw them [the liaison office officials] just yesterday ... we wished each other good health.' Mr Lam refused to say whether they had also been invited to the liaison office. 'Do I need to tell you every single person I've paid respects to since the first day of the lunar new year?'
Wining and dining in the name of co-operation
Newly appointed executive councillor Lau Wong-fat will have to wait for the conclusion of the annual National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference next month for a big celebration of his elevation to the government's top decision-making body. A huge feast, to be attended by a list of 'who's who' in the rural community, is scheduled for the end of March. The legislator, who represents Heung Yee Kuk, will also host a lunch this month for colleagues in the Legco development panel that he chairs. Development minister Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her colleagues have also been invited. An invitation issued by the Legco secretariat on behalf of Mr Lau gave no details of the purpose of the lunch. But the 'king of the New Territories' - who has been assigned the task of smoothing the mammoth cross-border infrastructure projects in his new capacity as Exco member - found the Lunar New Year holiday an opportune time to wine and dine in the name of fostering an atmosphere of co-operation. It was also revealed that Mr Lau had invited five independent lawmakers from functional constituencies to dine at his new restaurant in Tuen Mun at the end of this month. Asked whether it was part of his new Exco lobbying mission for the government, he said: 'We sit next to each other [in Legco], so we're close.' He was quick to add that any lawmakers would be welcome.
'They should know the reason'
Macau police have proved to be quick learners in the ways of mainland authorities - especially the art of politics-speak. Asked to comment on why Hong Kong pan-democratic legislators were denied entry to the city and whether there was a blacklist, a Macau police spokesman resorted to that well-used mainland response that those who were not allowed in 'should know the reason'. The spokesman also dismissed claims of a blacklist. 'They had some motives and thus were turned away,' the spokesman said, without explaining what the motives were. Pan-democrats Frederick Fung Kin-kee and Wong Sing-chi were the latest lawmakers denied entry. Mr Fung said he had planned to meet a former party member, while Mr Wong said he was on holiday with his family.
