My Take | Holding a foreign passport is fine – as long as no one finds out
Panama Papers have exposed Chinese ‘patriots’ to charges of hypocrisy, but Beijing isn’t too concerned; after all, it still has the upper hand
The Panama Papers have come up with many intriguing, and to their subjects, embarrassing revelations. Among these are the number of prominent public figures in Hong Kong and Macau who hold a foreign passport. This opens such self-styled Chinese patriots to charges of hypocrisy. But what is perhaps more interesting is Beijing’s nonchalant attitude towards such alleged breaches.
These include Peter Lee Ka-kit, vice-chairman of Henderson Land Development, and the oldest son of tycoon Lee Shau-kee; Lau Ming-wai, chairman of the Commission on Youth and head of Chinese Estates Holdings, a post he took over from his billionaire father, Joseph Lau Luen-hung; and Macau businessman Ngan In-leng, a standing committee member who represents Macau in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Lee and Lau are both British nationals, while Ngan holds a Singaporean passport.
Both Lee and Ngan sit on the standing committee of the CPPCC, whose members are not supposed to hold a foreign passport.
Lau’s case is a little different but has attracted widespread attention. The commission he heads sponsors young people on exchange tours to the mainland and for internships with mainland-based companies. The aim is to promote better understanding of China and, of course, to foster love of the nation.
Many people have expressed surprise and shock. Local internet forums such as Hong Kong Golden are full of nasty comments.