There are new political elites in town. Who are they, and will they displace the veteran Beijing loyalists in Hong Kong’s Legco poll?
- Emerging business figures mostly from mainland firms set to flex muscle at coming poll, with record number of them signing up in race for seats
- With newcomers expected to cause waves through mere presence or issues championed if elected, critics fear veterans’ influence may be diluted
As nominations for the Legislative Council election close on Friday, one noteworthy trend is the growing prominence of aspiring candidates from mainland Chinese enterprises and the professional classes. Will they compete with the traditional pro-Beijing bloc? Ng Kang-chung and Jeffie Lam look at the issue in the first of a three-part series on the Legco nominations.
Simon Hoey Lee is a rising star in Hong Kong’s pro-establishment camp, even though he has no party affiliation.
A legal expert on the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, Lee was also once tipped to be the next home affairs undersecretary when Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor took up the city’s top job in 2017.
Four years later, he is among a band of emerging business elites from mainland China’s enterprises who are set to flex their muscle in Hong Kong’s political scene as a record number of them have signed up to vie for seats in the legislature at the election next month.
Lee attributed their growing prominence in politics to the changing nature of Hong Kong’s society and economy.