It sounds like a storm in teacup. But when a row over the election of the committee of a leading business chamber turns ugly, it says something about the cross-currents buffeting the pro-business political circles.
On Tuesday Gerry Ma Kai-yung and Shirley Hui, two candidates backed by the Liberal Party, were defeated in elections to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's general committee.
The party's former chairman James Tien Pei-chun, who nominated the pair (they are not party members), was re-elected to the committee, but with fewer votes than previously. Another Liberal incumbent, Yeung Kwok-ki, kept his committee seat but lost the post of vice-chairman to Chow Chung-kong, chief executive of the MTR Corporation. Two candidates backed by a majority of incumbent committee members, Yu Pang-chun and Nicholas Brooke, won seats.
Pundits interpreted the results as a setback for the Liberal Party and a sign of its declining influence in the chamber. Retiring committee member Chan Wing-kee hinted that the defeat of Mr Ma and Ms Hui represented a vote against a political party. He said: 'Lots of members are unhappy that the policy direction of the General Chamber of Commerce is being influenced by political parties. It's becoming too blatant.'
Liberal Party legislator Tommy Cheung Yu-yan fought back on Thursday. He warned that efforts by big corporations to silence the voices of small and medium-sized enterprises would backfire. 'Let's see what representativeness the chamber can claim when all the SMEs walk out,' he said.
Ex-Liberal Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who represents the chamber in the legislature, rejected Mr Cheung's claims. Without naming his former ally, Mr Lam accused someone of trying to sow division.
