Hong Kong pro-establishment camp divided by extradition bill fallout as Liberal Party’s James Tien calls on three Executive Council members to resign
- Tien says Tommy Cheung, Ronny Tong and Regina Ip, should all consider resigning over their support for bill that would have allowed transfer of fugitives to mainland China
- Tong hits back saying he has made no mistakes while Ip says Tien’s comments are illogical and irresponsible
Tien said two other Exco members, Ronny Tong Ka-wah and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who strongly supported the bill, should consider resigning as well.
“Cheung is supposed to be a Liberal Party representative in Exco to convey public opinion to the government. However, he has gone the opposite way and is pushing the party to support the government line,” Tien told a radio programme.
On Tong and Ip, Tien said: “Members of the Executive Council are appointed by the chief executive while secretaries are appointed by the central government, therefore it’s more feasible for the government to reshuffle its cabinet than to make heads in the top administrative echelon roll.”
Tong said he respected Tien’s opinion but could not disclose what advice he gave to the government because of Exco’s principle of confidentiality.