Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (3rd right) poses with newly-appointed key officials in Hong Kong, April 22, 2020. Standing, from left, are: Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit Wing-hang, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)
The appointment of five new bureau heads of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was announced by the State Council on Wednesday.
The bureau chiefs will join other senior officials to assist Chief Executive Carrie Lam in overcoming the hardships brought about by the anti-government unrest last year and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, civic leaders said.
Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, previously director of immigration, was appointed secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, replacing Patrick Nip Tak-kuen.
Nip was appointed secretary for the civil service, replacing Joshua Law Chi-kong.
Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s largest political party, said the new governing team should be united to fight the coronavirus pandemic and prepare to bolster the city’s economy after the epidemic is under control
Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, undersecretary for Labour and Welfare, replaced Lau Kong-wah as secretary for home affairs.
The State Council also appointed Alfred Sit Wing-hang, director of electrical and mechanical services, as secretary for innovation and technology, replacing Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung.
James Henry Lau was removed as secretary for financial services and the treasury. Christopher Hui Ching-yu, executive director of Financial Services Development Council, replaced him.
The central government’s decisions were based on the nominations of the chief executive. Speaking at a news conference, Lam expressed admiration for the newly appointed officials, who are taking their respective positions at a difficult time.
The Hong Kong leader pledged that the governing team will make every effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. They will also focus on retaining and creating jobs, as well as improving people’s livelihoods, in the remaining two years of her current term, Lam said.
Nip, the new civil service chief, vowed to lead civil servants to safeguard the rule of law and serve residents with full commitment.
New Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Tsang said the Legislative Council election slated for September and the promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law will top his work agenda.
Different sectors of Hong Kong expressed their expectations
on the new officials’ performance.
Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s largest political party, said the new governing team should be united to fight the coronavirus pandemic and prepare to bolster the city’s economy after the epidemic is under control.
Lee said she hopes the new officials will be sincere with residents and lead Hong Kong’s effort to move on from the current medical crisis.
Alice Mak Mei-kuen, a lawmaker of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, hopes more aggressive and effective measures can be adopted to support employees battered by the social unrest and epidemic.
Lo Wai-kwok, a lawmaker for the engineering constituency, expects the new officials to first work on residents’ pressing issues in this difficult time. “(I hope) they can do appropriate things in a timely manner,” he said.
The appointments are expected to give residents a new impression about the government’s credibility and capability, said Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
