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Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)
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A veteran politician thinks Leung Chun-ying could become a vice-chairman of the nation’s top advisory body. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong chief executive could become vice-chairman of national body, veteran politician says

Politician bases his thinking on Hong Kong holding two CPPCC vice-chairmanships in 1993; now only Tung Chee-hwa has that position

Leung Chun-ying is likely to take up key posts in the nation’s political institutions given Beijing’s hope that the outgoing chief executive would “make contributions to the development of Hong Kong and the country”.

A veteran pro-establishment politician said Leung stood a high chance of being elected a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) after he leaves office next June.

After Leung made his stunning announcement on Friday that he was not seeking re-election, a statement from the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office that the central government hoped he would continue to contribute to the city and country was read by some as a strong hint that Beijing could arrange for him to join the CPPCC.

Currently, former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa who is viewed as an elder statesman of Hong Kong, is the only CPPCC vice-chairman from the city. But in 1993, Hongkongers held two such posts. Tycoons Henry Fok Ying-tung and Ann Tse-kai were elected vice-chairmen of the nation’s top advisory body . Ann died in 2000 and Fok six years later .

“It would not pose any problem for Leung to become Hong Kong’s second vice-chairman in the CPPCC as there was a precedent for two Hongkongers in the post,” the veteran politician said on condition of anonymity.

The next five-year term of the mainland’s top legislature and top political advisory body will start in 2018.

Lau Siu-kai thinks Beijing might be wary of giving former chief executives top national posts. Photo: Simon Song

But Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, warned against reading too much into the office’s statement. He said Beijing might also be wary of setting the precedent of giving former chief executives the post, citing how former leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen did not get it.

“In the eyes of the central government, Tung’s standing is obviously higher than Leung’s as Tung plays a crucial role in the Sino-US relationship because of his connections with the elite in the US,” Lau said.

“Besides, Leung joining the CPPCC as a vice-chairman cannot draw a positive response from Hong Kong people because of Leung’s flagging popularity.”

Tian Feilong, an associate professor of Beihang University’s law school in Beijing, said the central government would offer Leung positions in the nation’s political institutions as acknowledgement of the sacrifice he had made for the interests of Hong Kong and the country. “But the post may not necessarily be a CPPCC vice-chairmanship,” Tian said.

Leung could play an active part in the nation’s “One Belt, One Road” development strategy, a push to drive cooperation among Eurasian countries along the ancient Silk Road trading route, he said. Leung has unveiled several schemes for Hong Kong to take part in the initiative.

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