Aspiring deputies fill Tam with hope

Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's outgoing sole deputy at the National People's Congress Standing Committee, says he has high hopes for the city's younger generation of deputies to the national legislature, and that he will continue contributing after stepping down.

He had announced last month that he would step down in March as he is now 72.

In an interview with The Standard, Tam said he will continue his efforts in integrating the SAR with the mainland's development as secretary-general of the Hong Kong Coalition after March.

He said the coalition is working to recruit professionals who will cooperate with authorities and experts in the Greater Bay Area and the mainland. "As a deputy, you have to be a patriot who understands and cares about how the country and the city operate, since you're acting as an intermediary," he said.

As an honorary adviser to the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, he will join in meetings and make policy recommendations to support the SAR government.

Tam added that he was satisfied with the nominees hailing from different sectors who submitted their applications last week.

"There's room for fresh faces since, as far as I know, 15 of the current term's 36 deputies are stepping down."

Last week, Tam endorsed Federation of Trade Unions president Stanley Ng Chau-pei, who submitted a total of 500 nominations along with his own to enter the race.

On whether the NPCSC will hold a meeting to discuss Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's request to interpret the national security law, Tam said he has not been notified. "We rarely schedule extra meetings, as it would be a hassle since NPCSC representatives are stationed all over the country."

As for whether retirement is on the horizon, he said he will continue to serve Hong Kong.

"I've retired once already, stepping down as DAB chairman and dropping out as a lawmaker. But then I became Hong Kong's NPC standing committee delegate," he said.

"I don't have overseas holiday plans, since my family has returned to Hong Kong."

cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com