Former London-based high-flyer in running for leadership spot in powerful Hong Kong rural body the Heung Yee Kuk
- Peter Lam, 38, recently made a name for himself in village politics after winning election for Tai Po Rural Committee chairman
- His chairmanship qualifies him to run in kuk leadership election on June 1
The leadership race for Hong Kong’s rural powerhouse the Heung Yee Kuk is moving into top gear with a young high-flyer emerging as a front runner.
Peter Lam Yick-kuen, a businessman formerly based in Britain, made a name for himself in village politics last month after he won an election to become Tai Po Rural Committee chairman, succeeding patriarch and former pro-Beijing lawmaker Cheung Hok-ming.
Cheung, 66, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, stepped down because of poor health and was also expected to vacate his vice-chairman seat in the kuk, which represents the interests of indigenous New Territories villagers.
An indigenous villager of Nam Wa Po in Tai Po, Lam, 39 next month, is also the youngest rural leader in the kuk. His rural committee chairmanship qualifies him to run in the kuk leadership election on June 1.
“If there are chances, I think I should make an effort to get them,” Lam said when asked about his ambition to replace Cheung as a kuk vice-chair.
“I have heard of opposing views. Some people support me, while others say I still have more to learn. I am not saying I am very much eager to be in the top hierarchy of the kuk. [Cheung] told me being a kuk vice-chairman is not an easy job. But I was thinking maybe when I get the job, I could learn much faster [about rural politics] than observing it from a more detached or distant position.”
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Lam, who used to be based in London, runs the family business, Royal China Group. As head of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, he was among the guests who received President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Britain in 2015. He was also in a delegation of young overseas Chinese invited to visit Beijing last year.
After being elected as the Nam Wa Po village head in 2015, he began to move his base to Hong Kong and now spends most of time here, running his London business via teleconference.
The kuk has been an important pro-establishment political force, playing a key role in mobilising villagers to support candidates of Beijing-loyal parties at past Legislative Council elections.
Under the law, the kuk has a chairman and two vice-chairmen. The posts are to be filled by a leader from Tai Po, Yuen Long and Southern rural districts. Incumbent chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung is from Yuen Long rural district, while Daniel Lam Wai-keung and Cheung are from Southern and Tai Po respectively. Their terms expire on May 31.
Elections for the posts are scheduled for June 1. Nomination begins from May 27, running until 2pm on June 1.
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Lau and Daniel Lam are widely expected to be re-elected but there could be a competitive race for the remaining vice-chairman post, with prospective candidates including Peter Lam, Sai Kung North Rural Committee chairman Li Yiu-ban and Sheung Shui Rural Committee chairman Bowie Hau Chi-keung.
Intense lobbying was under way, according to insiders.
No one has formally announced an intention to run in the kuk election.
“Peter Lam has been making calls [to fellow village heads] to lobby for support for a couple of months,” said one village head in Tai Po, speaking on condition of anonymity. “No one can say for sure what his chances are. He could be hit by an undercurrent.”
Another said: “It is unclear whether Lam can unite the various factions in the Tai Po rural communities. But it is a good thing if we have a competitive election.”
Li said he was “actively considering” entering the race. “I can’t comment on any other possible rivals. I can only say that I am very interested in running,” he said.
Hau, however, declined to discuss his plans. “A week is a long time in politics,” he said. “I will have to wait and see what happens first before announcing my decision.”
Cheung has been a vice-chairman of the kuk since 2004. He is also a New Territories justice of the peace, a status enabling him to keep his kuk membership and thus the right to be voted in as a vice-chairman.
