Legco surprise spurs top job speculation

Hong Kong's sole delegate to the National People's Congress Starry Lee Wai-king will continue to chair the Legislative Council's house committee, but her deputy is now former finance committee chairman Chan Kin-por.

That comes as political observers are keeping an eye on whether Chan may succeed 72-year-old Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen as Legco president. Leung is expected to retire after finishing his term in two years.

The change as part of Legco members selecting the heads and vice-chairmen of three committees on Wednesday, something that happens at the start of every legislative year.

The chairmen and vice chairmen of the house and finance committees were all elected unopposed.

Lee, the former head of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, was the only one in the running to head the house committee. She chairs its first meeting today.

Her deputy, Ma Fung-kwok, opted out of the race for Chan, who also sits on the Executive Council, despite having the most experience in Legco.

The house committee change has stirred speculation, as whoever heads it is the de facto Legco vice president, while the committee vice chairman is third in the legislature's line of succession.

Chan, 69, has been in Legco since 2008, representing the insurance sector, and is known for being tough and outspoken.

When he headed the finance committee, Chan was given the task of breaking the deadlock in the 2020 house committee saga by Leung, which he successfully maneuvered .

As a veteran, Chan was also a vocal critic of government officials who failed to properly answer questions in Legco. "The government even invited Chan to hold talks to teach government officials how to answer questions by Legco members," sources said.

"One of the duties of a house committee chairman and vice chairman is to meet with the chief secretary. With the experience that Chan has, I do not think he will have any problem," the sources added.

The political sector is already speculating that Chan will be the next Legco president.

"Chan is just as experienced as Lee, but Lee is already on the NPC, so the thinking is this reshuffle paves the way for him to succeed Leung as Legco president," the sources said.

"Chan had already been considered as Legco president material before Leung decided to seek reelection in 2021," sources added.

In the finance committee, veteran banker Ronick Chan Chun-ying remains chairman, while his deputy will be DAB vice chairman Holden Chow Ho-ding.

Chow extended his gratitude to his Legco colleagues for their trust.

"I have chaired the constitutional affairs panel and been the vice chairman of the establishment subcommittee, and I have learned a lot," Chow said. "I will cooperate with Ronick to the best of my ability so the finance committee can operate efficiently."