Ten lawmakers and an executive councillor who went on a Cathay Pacific junket to France have faced a barrage of criticism from those who say the trip may have created a conflict of interest. Perhaps to avoid the same accusation, New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has declared on Facebook that she went boating in Sai Kung on Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun's yacht over the weekend. "Mr Tien had invited lawmakers from different groupings, but only I was free, so he was generous enough to suggest that my daughter and a few assistants should come as well," Ip wrote. She posted pictures from the outing, and said she would declare her interest to the Legislative Council Secretariat. It was understood that Democratic Party lawmakers - including chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing, Sin Chung-kai and Wu Chi-wai - also took a boat trip with Tien this month.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has been described by political observers as being keen to distinguish himself from his predecessor, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. But his office appeared to be borrowing one of Tsang's tactics when it posted a job advert on the government website recently. The ad called for a "research executive" - bringing to mind Tsang's method of hiring young talent as "special assistants" and grooming them for future political work. Candidates should have a local university degree, a good command of English and Chinese, and good knowledge of current affairs and the government's organisation. The new recruit will be paid up to HK$47,290 a month for assisting in policy research and formulation; gathering public opinion; analysing policies; organising promotional campaigns; and drafting speeches. Leung's office is also looking for an information co-ordinator - in other words, a top media aide to replace June Teng Wai-kwan, who left on August 1 citing health reasons.