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(Front row from left) Ann Chiang Lai-wan, Ip Kwok-him, Lo Man-tuen, DAB chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king, former Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing and Cheung Kwok-kwan at the launch of the party’s 25th anniversary celebration at Tamar Park. Photo: David Wong

After 25 years in Hong Kong politics, DAB’s next goal is to produce future top officials

The city’s biggest pro-establishment party will put more resources into policy research, while drafting plans to groom talent

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s biggest pro-establishment party, is hoping to groom more political talent for the next decade, according to chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king.

Lee’s comment came as the group celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Currently 117 district councillors and 12 lawmakers are members of the party.

“After 25 years of growth, I dare say we have done well in grooming talent to participate in politics,” Lee said.

She added that the goal of the party for the next decade was to train more political talent and pave the way for the implementation of universal suffrage for the city’s chief executive and Legislative Council elections.

Two ministers in the cabinet of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying – Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung – are also members of the party.
So had hinted that he would quit but Lau, who remained among the most unpopular ministers in public opinion polls, was expected to stay in the cabinet of incoming leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Lee said she had recommended a list of names to Lam, but admitted that the party did not have a strong pool of governing talents.

“We have focused on the elections but those who are talented in electioneering may not be good in governance,” Lee said.

She added that more resources would be put into conducting policy research, but detailed plans for grooming talent to govern were not yet drafted.

Lee said she hoped the party could produce more principal officials, and it would also not rule out the possibility of fielding representatives to join the leadership race.

Lee, 43, has been regarded as a potential future chief executive in the eyes of some members from the pro-establishment camp.

Meanwhile, Lee has plans to digitalise the party’s work, such as keeping soft records of complaint cases received in their district offices, and setting up an electronic system to record work-related activities of more than 30,000 members.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: DAB wants to nurture more for top posts
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