Beijing appoints new batch of businessmen to act as advisers

BEIJING's cultivation of Hong Kong's business community took another step forward yesterday with the appointment of a number of powerful businessmen as advisers on the colony's affairs before the handover in 1997.

Among the most prominent people to be appointed as advisers on Hong Kong affairs were Inchcape Pacific chairman Paul Cheng Ming-fun, Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, the oldest son of tycoon Li Ka-shing, Hang Seng Bank chairman Sir Quo-wei Lee and Chinese Manufacturers' Association president Herbert Liang Hin-ying.

The newest appointments follow a pattern established in 1992, when the first batch of advisers were appointed.

That group included well-known businessmen such as Li Ka-shing, Sino Land chairman Robert Ng Chee-siong, Shaw Brothers chairman Sir Run Run Shaw, Hopewell Holdings managing director Gordon Wu Ying-sheung and Bank of East Asia chief executive David Li Kwok-po.

Last year, Beijing tapped stock exchange chairman Charles Lee Yeh-kwong, Kerry Group head Robert Kuok, Wharf (Holdings) chairman Peter Woo Kwong-ching and New World Development chairman Cheng Yu-tung.

The high-profile Mr Cheng, 57, is also chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Governor's business council.

Mr Li, 30, kept an extremely low profile in both the political and business scenes until his appointment last year as a vice-chairman of his father's flagship, Cheung Kong (Holdings).