Tung Chee-hwa last night released an incomplete list of appointees which makes the DAB the dominant force in the district councils. The 100-strong list, two short of the proposed target, comprises old-time district leaders, professionals, municipal councillors, academics and religious leaders. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance were each given 12 seats while the Liberal Party received nine. No pro-democracy figures were appointed. Releasing the names at 9pm, a government spokesman said the 100 were appointed for their 'enthusiasm and familiarity' with community affairs. 'They are appointed in their personal capacity and their experience and ability to serve the community,' he said. Mr Tung's selection makes the DAB a bigger force than the Democrats - who won 86 seats during last month's election - in the lower-tier structure. With 12 seats on top of its 83 elected seats, the DAB beats the Democrats by nine seats. Democrat Sin Chung-kai condemned the appointments. 'Mr Tung has sent a millennium present to the DAB,' said the Kwai Tsing District Board member and legislator. DAB vice-chairman Ip Kwok-him brushed aside charges of favouritism. He said the Democrats only grabbed three more elected seats than the DAB, and the appointments would naturally put the party ahead of its rival. Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun said: 'I found the nine appointed seats that we got to be a quite reasonable figure. They were all among our recommended candidates, who are committed to being hardworking and active in community work, and to running in the district council polls in 2003.' Information Co-ordinator Stephen Lam Sui-lung would not comment on the party's share, saying the members were appointed in their personal capacity and for their experience. Among the appointees are the Reverend Sik Chi-wai, supervisor of Po Lin Monastery and a National People's Congress delegate. Academics include Chan Yan-chong, City University management science associate professor, and Tso Wung-wai, a Chinese University biochemistry professor. At least 10 municipal councillors, who will step down at midnight, are given seats. They include Tang Siu-tong, Ronnie Wong Man-chiu and Henry Wu King-cheong. Thirty-four of the 96 district board members handpicked by Mr Tung at the handover were reappointed. Two elected in 1994 but who chose not to stand last month were also appointed. The appointees will join 390 elected councillors and 27 ex-officio members from rural committees to serve a four-year term beginning tomorrow. There had been confusion about when the list would be released. In the end, it came too late to allow the councils to hold their first meeting, planned for tomorrow. The two missing names are prospective appointees to the Sha Tin District Council from whom replies are pending. Professor Lau Siu-kai of the Chinese University said: 'The list contained no surprises. Through the appoint ments, the Government is trying to mobilise its supporters at district level and to provide a training ground for the appointees to sit in more important advisory committees in future,' he said. Some of the district council members form part of the Election Committee in 2002, which will select the next chief executive. The democratic camp has accused Mr Tung of wanting to keep the appointment system to gain support from the Election Committee.
