This March 12, 2021 photo shows the Central Government Offices and the Legislative Council complex in Tamar, Hong Kong. (LI GANG / XINHUA)

Various sectors in Hong Kong hailed the newly announced team of the sixth-term government as capable and down-to-earth, and said they expect officials to rise to the daunting challenges and offer practical solutions.

The collective wish was shared by residents, experts and social groups after the nation’s State Council appointed 26 principal officials of the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, based on Chief Executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu’s nominations. The new team will assume office on July 1.

Political scientist Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, described the new team as being capable and practical in its work since most of its members have had experience working in government or of being involved in public affairs.

Political scientist Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, described the new team as being capable and practical in its work since most of its members have had experience working in government or of being involved in public affairs

Lau said he believes the new government will gain more public recognition and confidence once it has made progress in addressing the pressing issues.

Noting that four incumbent lawmakers are among the newly appointed officials, Lau said it is a case in point that the city’s legislature has become a cradle for cultivating political talent. It will certainly encourage more people to engage in political affairs, Lau said.

Congratulating the four lawmakers and other appointed officials, Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said the legislature will diligently discharge its constitutional duties to monitor and complement the governance of the new government, and act in concert with officials to resolve social problems.

Various political parties, social groups and business communities also pledged to fully back the incoming government and expressed the hope that the newly appointed officials can deliver good and effective governance and lead the city to further embrace national development.

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Security guard Lam Po-hwa, 63, said the new administration team is a living embodiment of “patriots administrating Hong Kong”. He said he believes that it will bring a fresh look to Hong Kong’s future and safeguard its stability.

Lam said he hopes that the government will strengthen the national security education of the younger generation. He noted that in the 2019 social unrest, because of insufficient and an incorrect understanding of the nation, many youngsters, including one of his relatives, were radicalized and got hurt in the street chaos.

Howard Cheung, a 25-year-old part-time student of Hong Kong Baptist University, reckons that the new cabinet is a competent team with a lot of talent. He said he hopes that officials can give full play to their strengths and abilities, and serve the public in a practical way.

Cheung, who is a public relations assistant of a securities firm, said he desperately hopes that under the new administration, the city’s youngsters will not be faced with unaffordable housing prices. Cheung said he is confident about the prospects of the Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He said he will be glad to see the new Home and Youth Affairs Bureau introducing more exchange programs and internship opportunities to mainland cities for Hong Kong students.

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Sophie Leung, 55, a veteran social worker, expressed a strong desire to see measures taken quickly to bring under control the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shown signs of a resurgence recently, with six consecutive days of over 1,000 new infections.

Leung said she is quite impressed by incoming health chief Lo Chungmau’s emphasis on strictly upholding the “zero-COVID policy”, which aims to fully control the pandemic and resume normal activities.

Noting that many people suffered mental health problems during the pandemic, she said she hopes that the new government can firmly continue with its pandemic policy to avoid more outbreaks.

Roxanne Li contributed to the story.