Unionists holding their breath over pledge on minimum wage
Unionists fighting for a minimum wage law have good reason not to take anything for granted, particularly when it comes to the question of who their negotiating counterpart is. Political Animal was told that union leaders had reacted with grave doubts when Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Stephen Ip Shu-kwan, assured them of the government's determination to enact such a law on a minimum wage in two years if the voluntary wage protection movement failed.
They wondered whether Mr Ip was merely second-guessing what his successor would do two years later when he was, perhaps, no longer in charge of the labour portfolio. Our friends at Lower Albert Road were quick to remind us that it was Mr Ip's usual style to play his cards close to his chest. Contrary to unionist thinking, it appears Mr Ip will stay beyond 2007.
Albert Ho braces for maritime battle
Democratic Party vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan is bracing for another fight - this time with the Japanese coastguard as he embarks on a trip to 'defend' the Diaoyu Islands on Sunday.
'We are prepared for Japan to crack down on us with an iron fist. What I really hope is that instead of the Hong Kong police, the People's Liberation Army navy will be my bodyguards.'
Mr Ho hopes to return in time to participate in a post-policy address debate later next week, but some party colleagues joked that he may be arrested by the Japanese and that he could even miss the Democratic Party leadership contest in December. 'He will become a national hero if he is jailed in Japan,' one party leader said.
