Two politicians tipped to take on Liberal Party's vice-chairmen roles
Two politicians have been tipped to take up influential roles in the Liberal Party as it expands its leadership team with the addition of two vice-chairmanships next Monday.
Honorary chairman and party spokesman James Tien Pei-chun said election dates were yet to be decided, but that youth committee chairman Dominic Lee Tsz-king, 29, and Eastern district councillor Peter Shiu Ka-fai, 43, had received colleagues' backing.
Tien also said he would run for the new party leader post.
Wan Chai district councillor Jeffrey Pong Chiu-fai said he knew Lee and Shiu were supported by many young Liberals because they "did a lot for the party". "I'll be glad to see them [elected]," Pong said.
Shiu, who chairs the Hong Kong Island branch of the Liberal Party's district affairs committee, came second last year on a slate led by honorary chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee, who lost her seat in the Legislative Council's direct election.
"Peter helped district councillors mature, and is surely an important figure in the party," Central and Western district councillor Joseph Chan Ho-lim said.
The Liberal Party has two vice-chairmen posts - filled by lawmakers Vincent Fang Kang and Felix Chung Kwok-pan. The three new vice-chairmen, when appointed, would be responsible for bolstering district work and grooming young talent.*
Shiu said he had yet to decide if he would run. "No one has encouraged me to go for it," he said.
He endorsed Lee as a suitable candidate because of his outspoken style, but Lee also said it was too early to talk about running.
"The vice-chairmanships had yet to be created … and many young Liberals are qualified as well," Lee said.
*Correction: An earlier version said the Liberal Party has three vice-chairmen posts and two new vice-chairmen positions. It has two vice-chairmen posts and three new ones.
