the party's 20-member preparatory committee included former democrats chan ka-wai and chow yick-hay, and centaline property agency co- founder shih wing-ching, who was also from path of democracy, the think tank set up by fellow moderate and former civic party legislator ronny tong ka-wah. others included hung fook tong executive director ricky szeto wing-fu and shue yan university associate professor lee shu-kam. the party was inaugurated at a 7 january ceremony.