Changing of the guard as 21 new members elected to Hong Kong delegation to China’s legislature with top neuroscientist Nancy Ip securing most votes
- Incumbent Nancy Ip tops poll, while DAB chairwoman Starry Lee secures spot and appears poised for prominent role as city’s sole delegate to the NPC Standing Committee
- Election result shows political elites prefer candidates whose professional backgrounds align with areas deemed crucial for city’s development, analysts say
Analysts said the election result showed the 1,273 political elites empowered with selecting delegates preferred candidates who worked in the same areas that Beijing had highlighted as crucial to Hong Kong’s development, such as science, culture, finance and law.
Twenty-seven newcomers and 15 incumbents vied for the 36 spots to represent the city in the nation’s legislature. Every incumbent won, including Hong Kong University of Science and Technology president Ip and singer-turned-businesswoman Cally Kwong Mei-wan.
Fresh ideas touted as new faces eye Hong Kong spots in China’s legislature
Ip received 1,254 votes, or nearly 99 per cent of the total, a better showing than the 83 per cent that got her elected in 2017, when she ranked 29th among 36 winners.
The Alzheimer’s disease expert received a boost to her profile in political circles when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited her centre for neurodegenerative diseases during his trip to Hong Kong in July.
Newcomer Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a lawmaker representing the sports, performing arts, culture and publication sector, received 1,248 votes. He is the grandson of late tycoon Henry Fok Ying-tung, a former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.
The NPC is tasked with enacting and amending laws, changing the constitution and overseeing its enforcement, and electing and appointing members to central state organs. Its nearly 3,000 members also direct policy on key national issues.
As well as several youth group representatives, former transport and housing minister Frank Chan Fan and ex-chief information officer Allen Yeung Tak-bun were among the newly elected.
Former district councillor Roy Chu Lap-wai, 39, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), was the youngest winner.
Gordon Lam Chi-wing, 43, chief supply chain officer of Sinopec Hong Kong, and Iris Wong, 40, a chief officer of the Hong Kong Coalition, a pro-Beijing group, both secured a seat.
Several lawmakers also won, including DAB chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king, Basic Law Committee member Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, Ronick Chan Chun-ying, Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, Rock Chen Chung-nin and Jimmy Ng Wing-ka.
Banking sector representative Ronick Chan ranked sixth among the 36 winners, while lawyer Nick Chan Hiu-fung was re-elected with 95 per cent of the votes and came 14th. In 2017, he narrowly lost when he placed 37th and only secured a seat when delegate Peter Wong Man-kong died in 2019.
Among the six candidates who lost on Thursday were Tse Oi-hung, vice-president of the Federation of Trade Unions, watchmaker William Shum Wai-lam, 37, and Andrew Fan Chun-wah, son of former NPC Standing Committee member Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai.
Analysts said the results suggested candidates fared better if they specialised in innovation, culture, legal services or finance, key areas Beijing had tasked Hong Kong to strengthen under the latest five-year plan to develop the nation.
“Beijing wants to find politically reliable people who have good professional and educational background to help with the city’s governance … and can push Hong Kong to further integrate with the national blueprint,” said Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank.
“That’s why voters also favoured candidates who are capable and have a track record in helping with the city and the country’s progress.”
Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said the central government likely favoured candidates in areas such as science and professional services.
“Candidates’ networks and ability to mobilise support in the pro-Beijing camp played a role, but some of them had clearly received extra blessing from Beijing because of their background,” he said.
42 Hong Kong candidates to compete in poll for 36 spots on China’s legislature
Political analyst Song Sio-chong, a professor at Shenzhen University’s Centre for Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau, said the election results “reflected the needs of the city’s future”.
DAB chairwoman Starry Lee secured 1,243 votes, ranking fourth among the 36 winners, making her likely to succeed former party chairman Tam Yiu-chung as the city’s sole delegate to the NPC Standing Committee, the country’s apex legislative body, after he decided not to run.
Traditionally that seat goes to the city’s most widely respected politician from the pro-establishment camp who is viewed as highly capable and well-trusted by Beijing.
Asked whether she wanted to take up the job, Lee said: “[A person must have] strong comprehensive ability and support from all sectors to sit on the standing committee. I think the central government will have its own considerations, and it is not a matter of personal wish.”
Standing committee members are expected to be elected as delegates meet in Beijing in March next year.
Yang Zhenwu, secretary general of the standing committee, said he hoped the 36 winners would be firm in safeguarding the “one country, two systems” governing principle and national security.
