Hong Kong Progressive Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong Progressive Alliance (HKPA) was a political party
in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
. It was established in July 1994, and is composed of mainly businessmen and professionals. The party is considered a pro-business and pro-Beijing one. It merged with the Liberal Democratic Foundation (LDF) in 1997. The current Chairman is Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen.
The basic platform of the party is to defend "One country-two systems" and the Basic Law
, the mini-constitution
of Hong Kong. It advocates handling political and social issues in a moderate, pragmatic and harmonious manner, and develop democracy progressively. Stability, prosperity and progress is emphasized.
Party members maintain close relationships with Mainland China
authorities. A number of them are deputies to the National People's Congress
and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
of the People's Republic of China.
The party won 5 seats in the 1998 election of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
, of which 2 were from functional constituencies and 3 were from the election commission. In the 2000 LegCo election, the party won 4 seats (excluding Choy So-yuk who had joined the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
(DAB) in the election). These included 1 seat each from geographical and function constituencies and 2 from election committee.
After that the party decided to let Dr. Cho Wang Wai to run for the election in New Territories East only (though there's rumour that an independent candidate in New Territories West, Chow Ping-Tim, was actually a member of HKPA). However, some outsiders think that HKPA was insincere in participating in direct elections and the dispute shows the party came to a decline.
HKPA has merged with Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
(DAB) since 16 February 2005.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It was established in July 1994, and is composed of mainly businessmen and professionals. The party is considered a pro-business and pro-Beijing one. It merged with the Liberal Democratic Foundation (LDF) in 1997. The current Chairman is Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen.
The basic platform of the party is to defend "One country-two systems" and the Basic Law
Hong Kong Basic Law
The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
, the mini-constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of Hong Kong. It advocates handling political and social issues in a moderate, pragmatic and harmonious manner, and develop democracy progressively. Stability, prosperity and progress is emphasized.
Party members maintain close relationships with Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
authorities. A number of them are deputies to the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
of the People's Republic of China.
The party won 5 seats in the 1998 election of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
, of which 2 were from functional constituencies and 3 were from the election commission. In the 2000 LegCo election, the party won 4 seats (excluding Choy So-yuk who had joined the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong , formerly known as Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, is the largest pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong...
(DAB) in the election). These included 1 seat each from geographical and function constituencies and 2 from election committee.
Decline
With the abolition of the election committee LegCo seats in 2004 election, the HKPA had an internal dispute on whether the party should send members for geographical direct elections. David Chu Yu-lin intended to run for a seat in New Territories East, and did start working on it, but he suddenly decided to quit in late July. Tang Siu-tong also declined to run for re-election.After that the party decided to let Dr. Cho Wang Wai to run for the election in New Territories East only (though there's rumour that an independent candidate in New Territories West, Chow Ping-Tim, was actually a member of HKPA). However, some outsiders think that HKPA was insincere in participating in direct elections and the dispute shows the party came to a decline.
HKPA has merged with Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong
Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong , formerly known as Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, is the largest pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong...
(DAB) since 16 February 2005.
Members of the party in the Legislative Council, 2000-4
- Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen
- Hui Cheung-ching
- David Chu Yu-lin
- Tang Siu-tong
- Choy So-yuk (also a DAB member)
Election Performance
- Hong Kong legislative election, 1995: 1 seats
- Hong Kong legislative election, 1998Hong Kong legislative election, 1998The 1998 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 24 May 1998. The elections returned 20 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies, of which 10 were uncontested.-Geographical...
: 5 seats - Hong Kong legislative election, 2000Hong Kong legislative election, 2000The 2000 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 10 September 2000. The elections returned 24 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies,of which 9 uncontested.-General...
: 4 seats - Hong Kong legislative election, 2004Hong Kong legislative election, 2004The 2004 Hong Kong legislative election for members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong was held on 12 September 2004. The elections returned 30 members from directly elected geographical constituencies and 30 members from functional constituencies, of which 11 were unopposed.-General...
: 0 seats