Unity urged for new HK deputies

Hong Kong's newly elected deputies to the national legislature should stay united and serve as role models in pushing forward cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, Wang Chen, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said on Tuesday.

Wang was speaking after 11 people were elected for the first time to represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the 13th NPC. The election happens twice per decade.

Affirming the open and fair conduct of the election, Wang expressed hope that the total 36 deputies-elect would unite and move forward.

He said he believed the elected deputies would inherit the tradition of loving the country and Hong Kong, defend the Constitution and the Basic Law, support the principle of "one country, two systems", and earnestly carry out their duties as deputies to contribute to a brighter future for Hong Kong and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Wang also said he expected the deputies-elect would care for the city's youth and be role models in supporting the Hong Kong government.

Twenty-five people were reelected.

New faces include Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, former secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, and singer-turned-politician Cally Kwong Mei-wan.

Also among the 11 newly elected deputies are Tam Yiu-Chung, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Maggie Chan Man-Ki, founding president of the Small and Medium Law Firms Association of Hong Kong.

Vincent Lee Kwan-ho, former independent nonexecutive director of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, got 1,594 votes, the highest among the 11.

Bernard Charnwut Chan, convener of the chief executive's top advisory body－the Executive Council－garnered another term by earning 1,693 votes, the highest among all deputies-elect.

All 36 deputies-elect will start their five-year terms in March 2018, subject to final approval by the NPC Standing Committee.

As closer ties are anticipated between Hong Kong and mainland, Bernard Charnwut Chan took it as his responsibility to speak for the city and safeguard the national interest. He said he thought Hong Kong deputies to the NPC should represent a wide political spectrum in the city.

Commenting on the election results, Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies and an Electoral Council member, said the result indicated that the new faces, most of whom were young professionals, were expected to develop greater political influence.

The voting results reflected the Electoral Council's stricter requirements on candidates. Some re-elected deputies didn't win by landslide margins.

The 36 incumbent NPC members from Hong Kong began their five-year terms in February 2013. So far they have proposed four bills and made 751 suggestions during annual NPC sessions regarding national development and people's livelihoods.