Hong Kong’s richest man, Li Ka-shing, and sons talked into voting for Carrie Lam as leader

A source with knowledge of the matter said Li and his tycoon sons, Victor Li Tzar-kuoi and Richard Li Tzar-kai, shared a meal with National People’s Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang in Shenzhen last month.

During the gathering the three were asked to cast their ballots for Lam and they agreed to back the former chief secretary, who is Beijing’s preferred candidate.

During the 2012 chief executive election, the older Li backed Henry Tang Ying-yen despite the slump in his popularity after revelations of a massive illegal basement at his house.

It is understood that Li Ka-shing stuck to his guns despite a meeting with then vice-president Xi Jinping in Beijing a week before polling day on March 25, 2012, at which the tycoon was thought to have been asked to switch sides.

Li Ka-shing is chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, which has around 10 votes on the committee. It is unclear how other electors of the company are going to cast their ballots.