Actor Eric Tsang resigns as political advisor

Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang [Photo/Xinhua]

Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang said he has resigned as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Guangdong province due to his busy schedule.

Tsang was selected as a member of CPPCC in Jiangmen City, Guangdong in January, 2011. He has never been there for a meeting since then, as he is also a CPPCC member in Guangzhou City, capital of Guangdong Province.

"I'm so sorry. I hold the same post in two different cities as a local CPPCC member, and there have been time clashes," he explained at a movie premiere in Guangzhou on Thursday, "I went to the Guangzhou meetings in person, so I have been asking for leave from Jiangmen. I have already asked to resign from Jiangmen, because I never made it there every year, I feel so sorry."

The China Youth Daily blasted Eric Tsang on Thursday, saying that he may never treat his job seriously. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is China's political advisory body. One absence means 640,000 people lose their representative at the political summit. The newspaper said some celebrities' absences have violated the rules and fairness, and have had a bad influence on society.

In 2006, two famous Olympic champions, Sun Shuwei and Hu Jia, both resigned as CPPCC members due to their busy schedule and long absence.

Eric Tsang, who attended Guangzhou's CPPCC meetings, which opened on Feb. 1, said his political proposal this year would be about education and morals. He also revealed at the meeting on Feb. 4 that he has been preparing for a year to build a major film and TV base like Hengdian World Studios with a budget of billions of yuan in Nansha District, Guangzhou. But the vision and deal have not been finalized yet.