Fifteen locals have been confirmed as candidates for election to the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC), which will be held next Monday.
The 15 candidates comprise 10 NPC veterans running for re-election and five newcomers
Leong Heng Teng, spokesman for the presidium overseeing the election, made the announcement after a meeting presided over by Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, the presidium’s standing president.
During the meeting, according to Leong, the 11-member presidium confirmed 15 local residents as NPC election candidates.
Ex-lawmaker Leong also said at a press conference that a total of 16 locals had submitted applications for the election with 15 of them being confirmed, adding that one of the applicants failed to submit any nominations.
Leong said that the presidium would not arrange for the 15 candidates to present their political platforms and ideas to the public.
“I believe they [the candidates] will use different channels to present their political platforms and political ideas to the public,” Leong was quoted by The Macau Post Daily as saying, insisting there was no “pre-arranged” list of 12 candidates to be elected by the Electoral Conference members.
The list of candidates for the election confirmed by the presidium consists of 15 candidates comprising four females and 11 males: Lei Pui Lam (m), Ho Sut Heng (f), Paula Ling Hsiao Yun (f), Io Hong Meng (m), Mok Chi Wai (m), Kou Hoi In (m), Gabriel Tong Io Cheng (m), Iong Weng Ian (f), Lok Po (m), Kevin Chan Chun Hou (m), Jose Chui Sai Peng (m), Leong Iok Wa (f), Lionel Leong Vai Tac (m), Ho Iat Seng (m) and Lao Ngai Leong (m).
Among the 15 candidates 10 are current local NPC deputies – Lei Pui Lam, Paula Ling, Io Hong Meng, Kou Hoi In, Lok Po, Jose Chui, Leong Iok Wa, Leong Vai Tac, Ho Iat Seng and Lao Ngai Leong – running for re-election.
Kou Hoi In, Jose Chui and Ho Iat Seng are local legislators while Ho Iat Seng is the only local member of the NPC Standing Committee; Paula Ling is a lawyer; Lok Po is the editor-in-chief of the influential Chinese-language daily Macao Daily News; Lionel Leong is a businessman and ExCo member.
Lei Pui Lam, Io Hong Meng, Leong Iok Wa and Lao Ngai Leong are leaders of four of the city’s main traditional associations – the Chinese Educators Association of Macau, General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (commonly known as Kai Fong), Macau Federation of Trade Unions (popularly known as Gung Luen) and Association of Returned Overseas Chinese.
The five newcomers are Ho Sut Heng, Mok Chi Wai, Gabriel Tong, Iong Weng Ian and Kevin Chan. Ho Sut Heng is a chairwoman of the Federation of Trade Unions (commonly known as Gung Luen) who also is a ExCo member; Gabriel Tong is a government-appointed legislator-cum-law professor; Mok Chi Wai and Kevin Chan are middle-aged businessmen, while Iong Weng Ian is a former lawmaker who is a key member of the Macau Women’s General Association (commonly known as Fu Luen).
Two of the current local NPC members – Legislative Assembly President Lau Cheok Va and Macau Women’s General Association Vice Chairwoman Chio Ngan Ieng – announced last month that they would not seek re-election. (macaunews)
