Political Animal
New name suggested in race for top job
Two names are often put forward as frontrunners for the next chief executive - Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and Executive Council convenor Leung Chun-ying. But, recently, an anonymous polling agency has thrown another name into the hat - Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. Political Animal failed to confirm which agency it was, because the computer-generated telephone poll did not name it. Lam has won praise as well as criticism for her tough approach to heritage conservation issues in the past. But observers are not convinced she would be a serious contender for the top job. 'She might have a chance of becoming the next chief secretary, but chief executive? Quite unthinkable,' Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok said.
CPPCC delegates receive a rallying call
On the mainland it is considered an honour to be appointed a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. But some Hongkongers who enjoy the privilege do not seem to have carried out the accompanying responsibilities, according to Li Guikang, deputy director of the central government's liaison office. Among the 125 local delegates, 20-odd have attended only one CPPCC activity among the eight held in the past year. At a closed-door meeting with the Hong Kong delegates in Beijing yesterday, Li urged them to participate more. Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who has complained about delegates' low attendance at meetings with him, perhaps now will understand it's nothing personal.
Paperwork shrinks as Britain plays green card
People used to regularly receiving the British government's six-monthly report on Hong Kong affairs might wonder what happened this year to the stacks of papers usually singing the praises of the 'one country, two systems' principle. Political Animal has learned that instead of sending the usual piles of printouts, the British consulate 'saved' 1,652 sheets of paper by directing contacts to view the online version of the report. A 'green committee' now runs environmental affairs in the consulate building in Admiralty, whose ideas resulted in diplomats saying goodbye to paper towels in toilets and paper cups at water coolers. Next time you travel on the MTR, you may see consul-general Andrew Seaton - duty-bound to make greater use of public transport, a policy introduced for consulate staff.
Fewer lawmakers, but more questions
Headcount in the 60-member legislature might have gone down after five lawmakers from the Civic Party and League of Social Democrats resigned to trigger what they hope will be a de facto referendum on universal suffrage, but that does not mean the overall number of questions asked by lawmakers regarding the budget has dropped. The Legco Secretariat said 3,192 written questions for government bureaus on their spending plans had been received this year, up from 2,985 last year and 2,733 in 2008.
That long wait is about to end for Fred Ma
After months of waiting, cashing-in time has finally arrived for former secretary for financial services and the treasury Fred Ma Si-hang, set to make a fortune after leaving the government by becoming chairman of China Strategic Holdings last November - a position which saw him receive 100 million option shares valued at the time at HK$66 million. Next Tuesday, shareholders will give formal approval for the arrangement, together with the company's plan to buy AIG's Taiwan life insurance group.
