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New advisors on the nation's political horizon
(China Daily) Updated: 2008-02-29 09:00 The booming service industry has contributed some new names to the list. Zhang Jindong, founder of the second largest home appliance retailing chain Suning, joins the CPPCC this year. Keeping him company will be Chen Tianqiao, 34, who heads China's largest online video game provider Shanda Interactive Entertainment. As one of the most dynamic financial centers in the world, Hong Kong is known for its professionals and entrepreneurs. This year, the special administrative region (SAR) of China will send some young but high-profile professionals to the CPPCC session. Newly appointed HSBC executive director Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen will be one of those faces, as will be Hong Kong lawmaker Jeffery Lam Kin-fung. Second-generation tycoons, too, are in focus this year, with the SAR's four big real estate families being represented in the CPPCC. Other prominent names include Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, grandson of late CPPCC vice-chairman Henry Fok Ying-tung. Bank of East Asia chairman David Li Kwok-po's sons Brian Li Man-pun and Adrian Li Man-kiu, and Chinese Estates Holdings chairman Joseph Lau Luen-hung's son Lau Ming-wai, too, will be there. Those involved with the Beijing Olympic Games are hot on the list, with one executive president and two executive vice-presidents of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) making it to the CPPCC. Executive president Deng Pufang is also chairman of the Chinese Federation for Disabled Persons, and executive vice-president Liu Jingmin is also vice-mayor of Beijing. The second BOCOG executive vice-president in the CPPCC is Jiang Xiaoyu. Other BOCOG members who will show up at the CPPCC session include former world speed-skating champion Ye Qiaobo and former world table tennis champion Deng Yaping. Ye won China's first Winter Olympics medal at Albertville, France, in 1992 but was forced to retire two years later because of injuries. The 44-year-old had to use a wheelchair while studying for her college degree at Tsinghua University. She is now part of the team preparing for the Olympic Torch Relay. Deng was a favorite of many Chinese because of her talent and happy and daring nature. The 34-year-old won 18 world championship and Olympic gold medals. She is now the vice-director of BOCOG's Olympic Village Department. |
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