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Abraham Razack is set to be installed as the new chairman of the English Schools Foundation.

Tycoons' friend Abraham Razack 'lined up for ESF hot seat'

Lawmaker Abraham Razack will face testing times as the foundation's HK$283 million subsidy is phased out and parents face steep fee rises

The man who represents the interests of property tycoons in the Legislative Council is set to be installed as the new chairman of the English Schools Foundation.

Just days after former ESF chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing stepped down, sources familiar with the selection process have told the that functional constituency lawmaker Abraham Razack, a pro-establishment heavyweight, will be confirmed in the position later this month.

Razack, 68, who has represented the real estate and construction sector in Legco since 2000, has been made an independent governor on the ESF board ahead of his appointment as chairman. It is considered a vital post as the chairman negotiates with the government over a host of issues, including the controversial matter of funding.

From next year the government will begin phasing out the foundation's annual HK$283 million subsidy over a 13-year period, and parents of new pupils entering Year One next year could pay fees 23 per cent higher.

Even before the Macau-born Razack takes over, there were calls for him to heed the voices of parents when helping shape the future of the foundation. Asked to confirm his new role, Razack would only say: "I will not deny it, but I have no comment on this."

An ESF spokesman confirmed Razack was a candidate and the understands no one else is in the running. Christopher Hammerbeck, chairman of the ESF committee that selects independent governors for the board, would only say that Razack had been appointed an independent governor.

Vincent Ho, who has two children at ESF schools and who worked with Razack for two years on the Independent Police Complaints Council, described him as a man who was willing to listen to a wide range of opinions.

"He is a nice guy, but I don't expect him to bring big policy changes to the ESF because he is a prudent person. I believe he will not favour the management side and will listen to parents. I hope he will consider things in students' interest and will not see parents only as cash cows."

Razack, whose Chinese name is Shek Lai-him, studied at Hong Kong's Queen's College and finished a BA degree at the University of Sydney. His long business career began in Swire's shipping division. He later joined Oriental Overseas Container Line - the family firm of former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.

In the 1980s, Razack was commercial director of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp. He became deeply involved in housing and real estate issues when he was chief executive of the Land Development Corp, the predecessor of the Urban Renewal Authority, from 1987 to 2000.

At 55, Razack entered politics and, backed by tycoons, won three uncontested elections. He stands out from Legco colleagues by making speeches in English.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: ESF hot seat for tycoons' friend
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