Controversy as Lau Kong-wah makes C.Y.'s cabinet
Lau Kong-wah's appointment after his Legco bruising divides critics and prompts call for Beijing loyalist to work evenly with pan-democrats
Lau Kong-wah, a Beijing-friendly heavyweight and the most prominent loser in the Legislative Council election in September, was appointed as undersecretary for constitutional and mainland affairs yesterday to oversee the upcoming political reform.
Dr Li Pang-kwong, an associate professor with Lingnan University, said Lau now faced the challenge of role transformation. "Lau was a former vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and a former legislator," Li said. "He needs to transform his role when he works with the pan-democrats.
"How he will position himself and the way he articulates his discourse on constitutional reform will affect the relationship between the pan-democratic camp and the government.
"If he fails to blend in his new role, tensions between the two sides will be further intensified."
Li noted the appointment came five months after the election of Leung Chun-ying as chief executive. The incomplete cabinet revealed Leung's lack of support and a dearth of political talent, Li said.
Lau's appointment drew polarised reactions, with the pan-democrats saying it ran counter to what voters wanted.
Lau, 55, began his political career as a Sha Tin district board member in 1985 and became the founding member of the United Democrats of Hong Kong - now the Democratic Party - after the June 4 Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.
