Pro-Beijing heavyweights appointed to vetting body

Three pro-Beijing heavyweights were on Tuesday appointed as non-official members of a powerful new panel that will decide who gets to sit on the Election Committee, or take part in Legco and chief executive races.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said former justice secretary Elsie Leung, former Legco president Rita Fan, and former Chinese University president Lawrence Lau will join the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee

Making the announcement during her weekly meet-the-press session, Lam described the trio as “respectable, loyal to the country and committed to Hong Kong”, adding that they do not belong to any political parties.

The committee, meanwhile, will be chaired by Chief Secretary John Lee.

Security Secretary Chris Tang, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, and Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui, have been named the official members of the committee.