Profile: young tycoon Lau Ming-wai tasked with reaching out to Hong Kong's disgruntled youth
Lau Ming-wai cut his political teeth serving Leung Chun-ying's main rival - but Leung is entrusting the young tycoon with a key role
The 2012 chief executive election changed the lives not just of the three candidates, but also of people around them.
While Leung Chun-ying celebrated victory, businessman Dr Lau Ming-wai licked his wounds after a bruising first step into frontline politics. Lau, then vice-chairman of Chinese Estates Holdings, served as deputy secretary general for Henry Tang Ying-yen, whose campaign was derailed by revelations of an illegal basement below Tang's Kowloon Tong home.
But Lau's first experience of politics was not to be his last. He has taken on a growing number of increasingly important public duties. He also took over from his father Joseph Lau Luen-hung as head of Chinese Estates after the latter was convicted of bribery in Macau.
Despite a background working for his rival, Leung has entrusted Lau with several prominent roles. He recently joined the government's commissions on poverty and strategic development. Last month, he was handpicked to chair the Commission on Youth, replacing Bunny Chan Chung-bun, 56.
The role is increasingly important at a time when the city's young people are unhappy over lack of economic opportunity and political development.
But many questioned the rationale behind the appointment. Lau, 34, hadn't even served on the commission yet was chosen ahead of young commission members such as district councillor Lau Kwok-fan, 33, and fellow tycoon Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, 35, members for five and three years, respectively.