Hong Kong deputies to NPC seen as having little influence

Hong Kong's third city-wide election race of the year is under way - but ordinary Hongkongers could be forgiven for not feeling the buzz of the poll for members of the nation's parliament.

While some National People's Congress deputies believe they have played an increasingly significant role in recent years, others argue that they see little change and remain critical of the method of election - which sees a small circle of just 1,620 electors choose by block vote the 36-strong local delegation, which will serve for five years.

The NPC has the power to amend the constitution and oversee its enforcement, enact and amend laws governing criminal offences, civil affairs and the like; elect and appoint members to central state organs; and determine key state issues.

Delegates from Hong Kong and elsewhere have long been dubbed a rubber stamp with little de facto power to scrutinise policy initiatives.

Some 52 aspirants are gearing up to run in the December 19 election, including 23 outgoing delegates.

They include Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a member of the NPC's powerful Standing Committee, Maria Tam Wai-chu, a deputy convenor of the Hong Kong delegation, and Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, an Executive Council member and Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's former top aide.

New faces joining the fray include former security minister Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong and Li Yinquan, vice-president of the China Merchants Group.