Hong Kong delegate to top Chinese legislative body to be decided by Beijing, says role hopeful Starry Lee

The central government will decide Hong Kong’s delegate to one of China’s top decision-making bodies, chairperson of the city’s largest pro-Beijing party Starry Lee said on Thursday. Lee is among the contenders for the role.

Lee’s comment came after 36 delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC) were selected by a 1423-member election committee on Thursday.

DAB chairperson Starry Lee. File photo: Lea Mok/HKFP.

Twelve current Legislative Councillors – Lee, Jimmy Ng, Stanley Ng, Dennis Lam, Ma Fung-kwok, Priscilla Leung, Brave Chan, Rock Chen, Ronick Chan, Maggie Chan, Kennedy Wong, and Kenneth Kwok – were elected on Thursday.

Former secretary for transport and housing Frank Chan was also elected to the NPC.

The remaining 23 delegates elected on Thursday were Ginny Man, Chu Lap-wai, Nancy Chu, Li Yinquan, Lee Shing-put, Tommy Li, Wilson Shum, Hendrick Sin, Gordon Lam, Andrew Yao, Herman Hu, Ling Yu-shih, Kevin Sun, Eileen Tsui, Bunny Chan, Nicholas Chan, Iris Wong, Ken Wong, Allen Yeung, Lui Tim-leung, Lau Ka-keung, Cai Yi, and Cally Kwong.

The DAB chair, speaking to the press after the election, said that no one had contacted her about becoming Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) yet.

Tam Yiu-chung. File Photo: Holmes Chan/HKFP.

The NPCSC is the permanent body of NPC, and its over 170 members are chosen by NPC members.

“I think the central government will have its own decision and arrangement,” Lee said. “This role has to be taken up by an experienced person who is trusted by the Central government and recognised across all sectors.

The city’s current delegate to the NPCSC Tam Yiu-chung said last month that he would retire from the role when the current term ends in March.

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