Lee reveals 16 Exco faces

Hong Kong's incoming leader John Lee Ka-chiu has announced his 16-member Executive Council, including seven new non-official members, of whom three are local deputies to China's political advisory body.

As reported by The Standard, New People's Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee will be the first lawmaker to be appointed Exco convener since the handover.

Ip, 71, who was first appointed to Exco by chief executive Leung Chun-ying in 2012, said yesterday that members of the de facto cabinet are experienced and broadly representative, and will support Lee.

She said she will not be resigning from her position as party chairwoman as she cannot see any conflict of interest.

"It is just unnecessary for me to quit my party or resign from being chairwoman," Ip said.

"The role of Exco convener is more of a consultative role, providing opinions, elaborating on policies, and the position does not involve any administrative and legal rights."

She called on Lee's administration to table policy documents as early as possible for she heard that other Exco members hope to provide opinions before policies are formulated.

Among the newly appointed Exco members are three Hong Kong deputies to the national committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

They are solicitor Eliza Chan Ching-har, 65, the election agent of Lee's campaign; former Hang Seng Bank chief executive Margaret Leung Ko May-yee, 70; and former secretary for food and health Ko Wing-man, 65.

Three lawmakers will be joining Exco for the first time, including Gary Chan Hak-kan, vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. He replaces Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, who parted ways with the party yesterday after being appointed the deputy secretary for justice, taking office on July 1.

In a Facebook posting, Gary Chan said it is "glory" for him to serve the SAR on yet another platform, as he said he will strive his best to bring citizens' voices into Exco and fully support the government in developing the economy and improving livelihood.

As the DAB will have only one seat in the next Exco instead of two in the previous term, chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king said she will not think of the number of seats her party has as it is paramount for the next government to form a suitable team.

The president of the Federation of Trade Unions, Stanley Ng Chau-pei, a first-time Exco member, said he hopes the government will fully consider the labor sector's voice when formulating policies.

Insurance sector lawmaker Chan Kin-por resigned as chairman of the Legislative Council's finance committee to join Lee's cabinet.

"I will help the government elaborate on important decisions and policies, and be a bridge between the government and citizens, to let citizens understand the government's intention and considerations behind those decisions and policies," Chan said.

The council chairman of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Moses Cheng Mo-chi, who previously served as the chairman of the Insurance Authority, is also a newbie.

Re-appointed to Exco alongside Ip are the former University of Hong Kong council chairman, Arthur Li Kwok-cheung; the former chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Joseph Yam Chi-kwong; senior counsel and former lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah; and pediatric doctor Lam Ching-choi.

Also staying on as Exco members are lawmakers Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, Kenneth Lau Ip-keung and pro-establishment camp convener Martin Liao Cheung-kong.

Jeffrey Lam said he will make the administration's governance more down-to-earth, while Tommy Cheung said he will bring the business sector's voice into the government to assist the administration in building a good business environment.

Those bidding farewell are convener Bernard Charnwut Chan; the chairwoman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Laura Cha Shih May-lung; the chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority, Chow Chung-kong; and the former secretary for education and manpower, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun.

Two pro-establishment heavyweights - the DAB's Ip Kwok-him and the Federation of Trade Unions' Wong Kwok-kin - will also be leaving Exco.