Election chief convener tops HK leader, says Tam

Sophie Hui

The new role of chief convener of the Election Committee will be in a superior position to the city's chief executive and will represent Beijing, says Hong Kong's sole delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Tam Yiu-chung.

But Tam would not comment on who is better-suited for the role between former chief executives Leung Chun-ying or Tung Chee-hwa, who are also both vice chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The electoral changes passed by the NPCSC on Tuesday include a system of conveners for the 1,500-member Election Committee. The chief convener to be named among them would be a "state leader" among the committee members.

The chief convener is responsible for running committee meetings when necessary.

Speaking on a radio program yesterday, Tam said the chief convener can call a meeting when there are election-related issues that cannot be resolved by law so it does not need the NPCSC to weigh in.

"This is a gate-keeping mechanism so the chief convener should be superior than the chief executive," he said. "It means the person represents the central government at a certain level."

Tam said there are not many who can reach that level and people know clearly who can be the chief convener. He also said there is no urgency to have the chief convener now.

Leung said it is still too early to discuss the role.

He added: "The Election Committee is also a public office like I have served in for the past several decades. I will see if I am capable and, if society and the country have the need, then I will do my best," he said.

Meanwhile, lawmakers voiced concerns about potential conflicts of interest as principal government officials will be involved in the vetting of election candidates

In a Legislative Council electoral changes subcommittee meeting yesterday, New People's Party chair Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee asked how authorities would handle conflict of interest in case officials serve on the candidate eligibility review committee before quitting to stand for the chief executive election.

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, said officials have to resign if they want to stand in an election and he does not see any conflict of interest.

Civic Passion lawmaker Cheng Chung-tai said some officials may hold grudges against lawmakers who are critical of them.

But Tsang said principal officials will handle the vetting impartially.

He said there is nothing wrong with principal officials sitting in the vetting committee as they are familiar with the constitution and the Basic Law and they are trusted by the central government.

The vetting committee's decision is not subject to a judicial review if that decision is based on safeguarding the national security committee's opinion, he said.

But other situations can be challenged by a judicial review.

He added that even if some people had been disqualified by returning officers in the past, the committee will reexamine the candidate's eligibility every time.

Separately, Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok said the chief executive could face potential conflict of interest since the government appoints heads of statutory bodies and district committee members who will join the Election Committee, which in turn will elect the city's leader.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com