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China's leadership reshuffle 2017
ChinaPolitics

Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan home to mysterious misbehaving communist cadre

Unnamed person is one of 13 Communist Party members excluded from China’s most high-profile political assembly because of ‘improper behaviour’

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The last major Communist Party congress was held five years ago in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Stuart Lau

One of the 13 Communist Party members to be barred from China’s most high-profile political assembly later this month on the grounds of “improper behaviour” comes from the Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan division, according to a study of official documents by the South China Morning Post.

Unlike the 12 other members disqualified from the nearly 2,300-strong 19th national party congress, his or her identity is unknown, highlighting the ruling party’s secretive approach towards the three territories where the Communist Party is not a duly registered legal entity.

“The identity of the person may never be disclosed,” said Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.

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Lau said the expulsion may not necessarily be about illegal behaviour, and “it could be simply because of unethical behaviour that fell short of illegality, given President Xi [Jinping’s] vow for strict party rules”.

The five-yearly congress is China’s most important political event of the year, when a new generation of senior leaders will be ushered in, though Xi will remain in office.

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