bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Quinton Chan

Party meeting may decide if it will quit cabinet

A row between Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and the Liberal Party looms, with the party threatening to quit the cabinet.

Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun  will meet members  tomorrow to discuss Mr Tsang's election platform. A party source said Mr Tien was expected to state afterwards that  the party would not accept some of  the key proposals in  Mr Tsang's new five-year term.

These include plans to introduce a minimum wage,  legislate against  anti-competition business practices and name more political  appointees as deputy ministers.

The source said Mr Tien  was also expected to state that  party leaders would not be able to continue serving in the Executive Council if the chief executive  did not change  these policies, amend  cabinet rules including the collective responsibility system, or increase the role  of executive councillors.

The party source said Mr Tien  would  point out that only the  chairman or vice-chairman  had the  authority to sit in Exco.

It would not toe the government line if Mr Tsang  appointed just  another regular member to the  cabinet.

But the party source said it was unlikely members would withdraw their support  for Mr Tsang's  campaign for a second term.

It is understood the government is considering appointing Liberal legislator Jeffery Lam Kin-fung to Exco.

Another source, who is close to both Beijing and the government, said the central government's liaison office   was  concerned by the  situation.

'The central government, of course, does not want to see any incident that would affect the smooth course of Mr Tsang's election campaign,' the source said.

'We consider this more a personal rift between Mr Tien and Mr Tsang rather than policy matters.'

Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee,  who is an Exco member,  said whether she would serve in Mr Tsang's cabinet in his second term would depend on the party's decision.

'This is not a personal question,' she said. 'Exco is only part of the question. We have to consult party members during the meeting on Mr Tsang's platform. He is saying we should improve relations, but how? This is a problem we have to resolve.'

Party vice-chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee  said  that while  the meeting was primarily called to discuss Mr Tsang's platform, the party's relations with the government leadership were also expected to be discussed.

'There have long been discussions over how to raise our party's relationship with Mr Tsang to a higher level,' she said. 'We don't have to have members in Exco to facilitate better relations. Even if we don't, we can still build a relationship.'

She said that although 'the vast majority' of  Mr Tsang's policies in his platform were acceptable to the party, there were clear differences over the minimum wage  and the proposed fair competition law.

Earlier, Mr Tien, who has long called for forming a ruling coalition with Mr Tsang,  praised   him for pledging to raise relations to a new level. The vow was made when he visited party leaders to solicit their support.

But Mr Tien has also made it clear the party will not want any seats in Exco if relations are not improved.

Even if party members were appointed  they might not necessarily represent the party and  could not guarantee the party's support in Legco for  government policies.



Just move Hong Kong’s HK$2 transport fare qualifying age back to 65

Hong Kong officials’ rising pay doesn’t square with our financial winter

Synagistics set for Hong Kong listing through merger with SPAC backed by former HKMA head

Spending by former Hong Kong leaders begs scrutiny

Donald Tsang

Row looms for Tsang and Liberals