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SCMP Reporter

THE Indonesian conglomerate Lippo Group has been revealed as a financial backer of outspoken legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing.

  Miss Lau disclosed in her declaration of Legco members' interests that she had received $50,000 from Stephens Finance last October.

  Stephens Finance is a subsidiary of the Lippo Group, which also has stakes in the Hong Kong Chinese Bank, Asia Securities International, Lippo Industries and Morning Star Travel.

   Legislator Jimmy McGregor is a director of the Hong Kong Chinese Bank.

  Stephens Finance is one of three companies under the Lippo Group named in the recent Allen Report into the affairs of the Allied Group.

  The report showed a close relationship between the Lippo Group, Lippo chairman Stephen Riady and former Allied boss Lee Ming Tee.

  Under a summary of loans reviewed by the report, some $86.87 million were outstanding on May 31 last year to companies associated with the Riady family of the Lippo Group.

  The executive director of the Hong Kong Chinese Bank, Lee Jark-pui, who raised the money for Miss Lau, said the legislator was not involved in the businesses of Stephens Finance.

  ''I am the only link between Miss Lau and Stephens Finance,'' he said.

  He said there were no strings attached to the donation and he had raised the money from the Lippo Group on behalf of Miss Lau because he identified with her fight for human rights and freedom of information.

  ''I have known Emily since her days as a reporter. We have been friends since then. She is a responsible, committed person,'' Mr Lee said.

  He said he had put forward the suggestion to sponsor Miss Lau to the management of the Lippo Group, and the finance company agreed to donate $50,000.

  Miss Lau said she knew nothing about the operations of Stephens Finance.

  ''The donation has no strings attached,'' Miss Lau said.

  She said the money was given after she approached Mr Lee for sponsorship.

  Mr Lee, who described himself as a liberal thinker, once contemplated standing for the 1985 Legislative Council elections.

  Mr Lee, a senior executive with the Chinese Manufacturers' Association (CMA) of 16 years standing, wanted to represent the association in Legco.

  But the CMA abruptly changed its constitution to bar paid employees from seeking elected office and Mr Lee joined the Lippo Group.

  CMA president Ngai Shiu-kit was elected and has remained in the seat.

  Mr Lee has served on numerous public bodies and was formerly the chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Social Service.

  He is also the executive director of the Tobacco Institute.



Lippo gave Lau $50,000 donation