HK actor elected as political advisor

Three Hong Kong movie stars, including comedy actor Stephen Chow, have been elected to the 93-member Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Members, known as political advisors, are supposed to submit proposals to the government. Advisors who join the committee are people of social influence and represent different professions.

According to provincial committee staff, Chow is joined by Kent Tong and Ding Sheng Ma as elected members. They were elected on Sunday.

Xie Weifeng, a commentary writer, said celebrities are more likely to attract public attention when they express their opinions, which is a good way for them to exert their influence for the public good.

An online survey had raised concerns about how members are elected, what qualifications they should have, how they carry out their duties, and what happens if they fail to perform.

Committee staff told Xinhua, "All members were elected with the help and cooperation of the provincial United Front Department."

The staff member said, "They will lose their posts if they fail to perform their duties." Adding, "We will set up duty files for our members as an assessment index for their performance."

CPPCC, a key advisory body for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, has chosen its members from a wide range of political and professional backgrounds since it was established in 1949.