The Liberal Party’s honorary president James Tien Pei-chun has said that lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee would be the best choice for the presidency of the Legislative Council, instead of his brother.
Whilst his brother Michael Tien Puk-sun has shown interest in running for the presidency, Ip has not.
During a Commercial Radio programme on Wednesday, Tien said the role involved a lot of pressure and that it was even unhealthier than smoking.
“Even a capable person like [former LegCo president] Jasper Tsang could not make all sides happy,” he said.
He said that he would suggest the Liberal Party avoid supporting Michael Tien for health reasons: “If you have siblings that you care about, would you want them to be president of LegCo now?”
On the criteria for president, Tien said it was the best for the president to be a directly-elected lawmaker, who is capable of communicating with the pan-democrats, and is familiar with the LegCo rules of procedures and laws.
Lawmakers Martin Liao Cheung-kong, Paul Tse Wai-chun and Starry Lee Wai-king were also rumoured to be possibly running for the presidency.
Tien said Liao was a barrister, that he spoke with clear mind and legal basis; Tse could communicate with pan-democrats and Lee was well-organised.
Under Article 71 of the Basic Law, the president is elected by members. The president must be a legislator and can preside over all meetings, maintain order in the chamber, decide the agenda and time of meetings and call special out-of-hours sessions. Jasper Tsang Yok-sing stood down from the role at the end of the last session.
Chief Executive run?
Tien said that Regina Ip should be the best choice, as she was directly elected, was able to communicate with different parties, and was full of experience.
“But Ip wants to be the Chief Executive, she doesn’t want to be the president, so she’s making my brother do it,” he said.
Both Ip and Michael Tien were lawmakers of the New People’s Party. Ip had said she did not intend to run for the position.
Tien came out of the LegCo election in the second place in his party’s ticket in New Territories East led by Dominic Lee Tsz-king. Lee was unable to win a seat.
A day after the election, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that “some lawmakers who clearly opposed my re-election were not elected.”
Tien said he supposed Leung was talking about Lee and Ricky Wong Wai-kay, who both put forward “ABC” – Anyone But CY Leung – as an election platform.
But Tien said the pro-democracy camp gained seats in the election, and so Leung should not conclude that he has won.
“There’s only one year left for him – it’s too late, no one cared even though he invited all parties to communicate,” Tien said. “He held out an olive branch – but he was only committing an act to win his re-election.”
Tien said the election has had a negative impact on Leung’s re-election.
When asked about rumours that supporters of Leung were leaving him, Tien said: “I have no idea, I don’t know who his supporters are.”
But he said he heard that some of Leung’s supporters have stopped voicing their support.
