The younger brother of former Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun looks set to play a bigger role in the party, which is thinking about changing its leadership structure.
Some voices within the pro-business party say Michael Tien Puk-sun, who sits on the executive committee, should be given the title of vice-chairman to reflect his growing workload.
One of the party's two current vice-chairmen, Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, says he has thought about resigning but has not made a decision. Cheung, lawmaker for the catering sector, was roundly criticised in March after he suggested that the city's first statutory minimum wage should be just HK$20 an hour.
Party chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee said no decision had been made but an extra post of vice-chairman could be an option. She sought to play down speculation that Tien would replace Cheung, though she admitted Cheung had been 'quite reluctant' to serve as vice-chairman in the past two years.
'He often said he gave a helping hand to the party after our party suffered from the withdrawal of several lawmakers in 2008,' she said.
Four Liberal Party legislators quit the party after it was routed in the 2008 Legislative Council election.