New People's Party (Hong Kong)

New People's Party 新民黨
Chairperson	Regina Ip
Founder	Regina Ip
Deputy leader	Louis Shih Michael Tien
Founded	9 January 2011 (2011-01-09)
Preceded by	Savantas Policy Institute
Ideology	Anti-immigration, Economic liberalism[citation needed]
Political position	Centre-right
National affiliation	Pro-Beijing camp
Official colours	Blue, Red
Legislative Council	1 / 60
District Councils	2 / 534
Website
http://www.npp.org.hk/
Politics of Hong Kong Political parties Elections

The New People's Party (Chinese: 新民黨; abbreviated to NPP) is a political party in Hong Kong, part of the pro-government or pro-Beijing camp. It was established by Regina Ip on 9 January 2011. She is now the chairperson. Michael Tien, former member of the Liberal Party and younger brother of former Liberal Party chair James Tien, is the deputy chairman. Another deputy chairman is Louis Shih.^[1]

Since Ip has strongly indicated her interest in becoming Chief Executive of Hong Kong, it has been suggested that the party is primarily a vehicle for that goal.^[2]

The party intends to field 10 candidates in the district council elections in November 2011.^[2] Candidates will include three former senior security service officers in Tony Liu Kit-ming, the soon-to-retire chairman of the Hong Kong Police Inspectors Association; Wat Ki-on, the retired former chairman of the Fire Services Department Ambulancemen's Union; and Tsui Chi-keung, the retired former chairman of the Fire Services Department Staff's General Association.^[3]

The party positions itself with the pro-government camp, counting the DAB as a 'partner'. But Ip has said that it targets the 'middle class', rather than the 'grass roots'.^[2] The party's stated platform includes universal suffrage, economic diversification^[1] and the reduction in the wealth gap.^[4]

The party seems to receive funding from the Tobacco Industry given its stance on the recent tobacco tax increase which Ip opposed and linked to a counter proposal to spread the tax increase over 5 years. Alan Zeman Mr Lan Kwai Fong is believed to be a financier of the party also. (High time all political parties in Hong Kong were forced by law to reveal the sources of their funding so the public can see the financiers who are pulling the puppet strings!)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Yan, Cathy (8 January 2011). "Hong Kong's Ip Launches Political Party". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703667904576071570107656388.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. Retrieved 17 January 2011. ""Joining Ms Ip as deputy chairmen are former Liberal Party member Michael Tien and Louis Shih, former chairman of the pro-democracy organization SynergyNet."" 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Regina Ip hints at run for top job, SCMP, 31 Jan 2011
3. ^ High-profile officers join Regina Ip's party, South China Morning Post, Phyllis Tsang, 8 Feb 2011
4. ^ the Standard. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=106856&sid=30858941&con_type=1&d_str=20110110&fc=10. Retrieved 17 January 2011.