36 elected as HK's deputies to national legislature

Thirty-six people, out of a total of 52 candidates, from different sectors of the Hong Kong society were elected on Wednesday as deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Martin Liao Cheung Kong, a 55-year-old lawyer and also legislator of the 70-member Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), topped the ballot tally by winning 1,403 votes from 1,488 members attending the second plenary session of the Conference for Electing Deputies of HKSAR to the 12th NPC.

Ambrose Lee, former Secretary for Security of the HKSAR government who won the largest number of nominations, also prevailed in the contest by pocketing 1,387 votes, only behind Martin Liao.

Among the 36 deputies were nine women, including Laura Cha Shih May-lung, who won 1,368 votes in the election, the largest among the nine women. She is also incumbent deputy to the 11th NPC.

The 12th National People's Congress will convene in Beijing to elect new state leaders and discuss state affairs next March.

Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Li Jianguo, who flew to Hong Kong from Beijing, attended the second plenary session of the conference, which was presided by HKSAR Chief Executive CY Leung.

In his speech after the election, Li congratulated on the newly- elected deputies, saying the election for deputies of HKSAR to the 12th NPC had strictly complied with the law and had proceeded by giving full play to democracy. "It is an open, fair and just election," he said.

Li said he believed the newly-elected deputies would inherit the tradition of loving the country and Hong Kong, defend the Constitution and the Basic Law of HKSAR, support the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", and earnestly carry out the duties of the deputies, so as to make contributions to building a brighter future for Hong Kong and for the country.

The 36 deputies elect will formally be installed into office after they pass detailed audit by a panel under the Standing Committee of the 11th NPC.