Property investor throws hat into CE ring

A former member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Wu Sai-chuen, has announced his intention to run in next month's chief executive election, making him the second person aiming for Hong Kong's top job.

Kung fu movie producer and businessman Checkley Sin Kwok-lam, 64, is the first to declare he is joining the race.

Wu, a 62-year-old property investor and founding chairman of Titus Business Alliance, said he will be announcing his manifesto today and that it will focus on six aspects, including housing, medical care and elderly care.

He proposed letting everyone have their "own cozy home" and allow young people to understand China's social characteristics and development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

Once elected, Wu said he will retain and promote capable officials within the government and promote talented civil servants to join the governing team to gain trust from the central government.

Wu had previously thrown his hat into the CE ring - in 2012 and 2017 - but failed to obtain sufficient nominations in both attempts.

He also ran in the 2015 district council elections in the Lai Chi Kok north constituency and got a mere 64 votes as well as in the 2010 Legislative Council New Territories East by-election, where he came in last among four candidates.

Wu joined the DAB in 2008 and left the party in 2010.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the date for the election remains the same, although she is not ruling out the possibility of a change of date due to the fifth wave of the pandemic.

In a news conference before her Executive Council meeting, Lam said the nomination period will start on Sunday as scheduled. The election itself is on March 27.

But since the pandemic is worsening, Lam said the government has to continuously review anti-epidemic measures, adding she could not rule out a change of polling date.

Lam has been side-stepping questions on whether she will seek reelection, saying her only objective now is to lead Hong Kong out of the pandemic.

She also asked people to stop nagging her for not wearing a mask in her weekly news conferences.

"Not wearing a mask while holding a press conference in the Central Government Offices is a decision made after careful consideration," Lam said.

"I have already given my explanation earlier and I have nothing to add."

Lam continued: "I hope the public will focus on fighting the pandemic instead of being entangled in this question."

Lam has previously said she has to disseminate messages to the public through the media and removing her mask will allow people to listen to those messages clearly and feel her emotions at the same time.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com