'Special' six set for Beijing CPPCC

James Lee

Four Legislative Council members and a number of business heavyweights will be among 760 members sitting on the 14th Beijing municipal committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference come March.

The current committee held its 38th meeting on Sunday when it deliberated and approved members of the upcoming 14th Beijing committee.

The Legco members are Peter Koon Ho-ming of the Election committee constituency, Edward Lau Kwok-fan and Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, both of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, and Basic Law expert Simon Lee Hoey.

Lee said he has the experience, having served as a Guizhou municipal CPPCC committee delegate.

"I've lived in Beijing for many years, and I want to help connect technological research institutes in Beijing and Hong Kong," he said.

Incumbents from the business sector are also on the list, including permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Irons Sze Wing-wai, who has been on the Beijing committee since 2008.

Henderson Land co-chairman Martin Lee Ka-shing, Sun Hung Kai Properties executive director Christopher Kwok Kai-wang and Sino Group deputy chairman Daryl Ng Win-kong are seeking another term.

Making their debuts are Clarence Ling Chun-kit, chairman of the pro-Beijing think tank Y.Elites, and associate dean (research) at Chinese University's faculty of medicine Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, who was on Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's election campaign team last year.

The SAR delegates are among 126 committee members appointed by "special invitation" to the Beijing CPPCC, which is made up of 32 "circles" representing the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, as well as unions, researchers, welfare groups, press and other sectors.