Shan Li, a member of the Credit Suisse board, is one of the three co-founders of a new political party called «Bauhinia,» according to Hong Kong’s Companies Registry. 

The 57-year old Chinese banker was voted onto the Swiss bank's board last year and is also a delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – a top Beijing-backed advisory body.

The political move is noteworthy because it strikes at the heart of recent unrest in the territory: the party seeks to «promote a democratic political system best suited to Hong Kong based on the rule of law and civil liberty with the realization of universal suffrage as guaranteed by the Basic Law, so as to safeguard Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability,» according to a public document.

Pro-Establishment Bankers

Li, a Sichuan-born banker, lived in Hong Kong for 20 years after graduating from Tsinghua University and studying abroad in the U.S.He is the CEO of Silk Road Finance Corporation in Hong Kong and private equity fund Chinastone Capital Management in Shanghai.

Outside of finance, Li also holds positions within several think tanks including vice-chairman of the Silk Road Planning Research Centre and the Tsinghua Institute for Governance Studies. 

Co-founders of the party include mainland banking veteran Wong Chau-chi – chairman of multimedia firm CMMB Vision and director of private equity fund Chi Capital –and Chen Jiawen, chairman of local cosmetics chain Bonjour.

Potential Reforms

Last month, Li delivered a speech at his alma mater about the social unrest in Hong Kong as a motivator for the establishment of the new party which aims to register 250,000 members. 

Reforms suggested include the creation of a 1,700-hectare metropolis in the manmade islands of southwestern Hong Kong as well as the recruitment of Hong Kong residents in the People’s Liberation Army.