Tycoons' friend Abraham Razack 'lined up for ESF hot seat'
Lawmaker Abraham Razack will face testing times as the foundation's HK$283 million subsidy is phased out and parents face steep fee rises
The man who represents the interests of property tycoons in the Legislative Council is set to be installed as the new chairman of the English Schools Foundation.
Just days after former ESF chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing stepped down, sources familiar with the selection process have told the South China Morning Post that functional constituency lawmaker Abraham Razack, a pro-establishment heavyweight, will be confirmed in the position later this month.
Razack, 68, who has represented the real estate and construction sector in Legco since 2000, has been made an independent governor on the ESF board ahead of his appointment as chairman. It is considered a vital post as the chairman negotiates with the government over a host of issues, including the controversial matter of funding.
From next year the government will begin phasing out the foundation's annual HK$283 million subsidy over a 13-year period, and parents of new pupils entering Year One next year could pay fees 23 per cent higher.
Even before the Macau-born Razack takes over, there were calls for him to heed the voices of parents when helping shape the future of the foundation. Asked to confirm his new role, Razack would only say: "I will not deny it, but I have no comment on this."
An ESF spokesman confirmed Razack was a candidate and the Post understands no one else is in the running. Christopher Hammerbeck, chairman of the ESF committee that selects independent governors for the board, would only say that Razack had been appointed an independent governor.