CHINA will formally appoint the third batch of 49 Hong Kong affairs advisers and 13 Preliminary Working Committee members today. But the ceremony has been soured by the withdrawal of Meeting Point chairman Anthony Cheung Bing-leung's invitation last week. Two Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood leaders, Frederick Fung Kin-kee and Chang Ka-mun, will also be absent after frequent changes of dates for the ceremony disrupted their schedules. Lau Kong-wah, a former United Democrat, said he would not raise the subject of Mr Cheung's sacking. Another adviser feared the same treatment if the matter was raised. Before the new appointees left for Beijing yesterday a group of Hong Kong students demonstrated at Kai Tak airport against the treatment of Mr Cheung. Meanwhile, adviser Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, the eldest son of tycoon Li Ka-shing, said any drastic rise or fall in property prices would not be in the best interest of Hong Kong people. Stressing that the best option was to strike a balance between supply and demand, Mr Li said a moderate increase in land supply would be adequate. Another adviser, Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen, said it was unlikely there would be a drastic drop in property prices.
