Henry Tang and supporters among elected to CPPCC leadership
Ex-chief secretary among six Hongkongers elected to advisory body's standing committee
Former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and at least two of his supporters are among six Hongkongers newly elected to the standing committee of China's top political advisory body.
Tang, with 2,178 votes, ranked 13th of the 16 Hongkongers elected or re-elected to the committee. Eight voted against him while three abstained.
Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa meanwhile was re-elected as one of 23 vice-chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with 2,181 votes for, eight against and two abstentions.
Joining Tang in the committee for the first time are supporters Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, chairman of the Hospital Authority, and Liu Changle, chairman and chief executive of Phoenix Satellite Television.
Other new members are Peter Lee Ka-kit, son of Henderson Land Development chairman Lee Shau-kee; Lam Shu-chit, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations; and Yin Xiaojing, a deputy director of the central government's liaison office.
Ten other local delegates were re-elected.
The list was decided yesterday by 2,194 CPPCC delegates based on a recommended list of about 300 candidates.
[Tang] deserves it, because he made contributions to society and knows a lot of people
Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen, Chan Wing-kee and Yin shared top rating on the local list with 2,187 votes each. Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, chairman of Cheung Kong Infrastructure and the eldest son of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, came last with 2,168 votes in favour of him, 20 against and one abstention.
Sing Tao News Corporation chairman Charles Ho Tsu-kwok won re-election with the same vote tally as Tang. Ho, who backed Tang in his failed campaign for chief executive, rejected suggestions that yesterday's vote was a consolation prize for losing the election.
"I think [Tang] is quite happy and doesn't need any consolation. He deserves it, because he made contributions to society and knows a lot of people," he said. Ho also said he did not think the advisory role would stop Tang from criticising the Hong Kong government.
He also dismissed a suggestion that Beijing tried to achieve a balance of power by allowing Tang supporters to be elevated to the standing committee.
CPPCC delegate James Tien Pei-chun said he did not think affiliations with Tang or Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had been on Beijing's mind in making recommendations. "[Beijing] sees things from a higher level ... and considers people who do things or have public posts," he said.
