Chief Executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu (center, front) and principal officials of his governing team meet the press in Hong Kong after the State Council approved the nominations of the officials on June 19, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Newly-appointed principal officials of the incoming sixth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government pledged on Sunday to make every effort to unite the city and take it forward.
The 26 officials made their public debut shortly after being appointed by the State Council, based on Chief Executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu’s nominations.
They vowed to go all out in improving administration efficiency, addressing the people’s concerns and deepening integration with the Chinese mainland
They vowed to go all out in improving administration efficiency, addressing the people’s concerns and deepening integration with the Chinese mainland.
The governance team, which will assume office on July 1 along with Lee, will be the biggest since the handover in 1997. The current number of 13 bureaus has been expanded to 15, with three deputy secretaries being appointed to help each of the three top-ranked secretaries in charge of administration, finance and justice.
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Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who will be the next chief secretary for administration, said he’ll do everything he can to help Lee accurately implement “one country, two systems”, unite all sectors and coordinate with the bureaus in drawing up policies to improve the people’s livelihood.
He said he has a “grave responsibility” on his shoulders and is aware of the public’s high expectations of the next SAR administration in dealing with problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as livelihood issues.
Incumbent Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who’s staying on in the post, said Hong Kong, with the central government’s support and under Lee’s leadership, will make bigger strides in resolving the city’s problems amid a severe and complex environment.
Incoming secretary for justice, senior counsel Paul Lam Ting-kwok, said he’ll firmly uphold the rule of law — a time-honored value of Hong Kong that’s vital in making the city a safe place to live in and pursue one’s dreams.
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Cheuk Wing-hing, who was appointed deputy chief secretary for administration, said he’s honored to take up the huge responsibility and daunting task. He said he had worked in seven of the nine bureaus that are directly under the chief secretary. The veteran civil servant said his working experience at 17 bureaus and government committees will be conducive to shouldering his new job.
Earlier on Sunday, the State Council appointed the 26 principal officials of the HKSAR’s sixth-term administration on Lee’s recommendations.
The new team comprises civil servants with extensive experience in government, professionals, and those who are skilled in their own sectors. They include six women who make up a quarter of the team – the highest number of female members in a governance team since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
Among the newly-appointed officials, six are new faces from outside the government, including Paul Lam Ting-kwok, who will be the next secretary for justice; Cheung Kwok-kwan, who will become deputy secretary for justice; Professor Lo Chung-mau, who will be secretary for health; and Alice Mak Mei-kuen, who has been named the next secretary for home and youth affairs.
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Thanking the central government for the appointment and Lee for nominating him, Cheung said he’ll do the best he can to help the secretary for justice make full use of his experience as a lawmaker to explain the government’s policies to the public and promote communication in legal affairs among Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the world.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai have also been retained in their posts.
Tang said he’ll steadfastly safeguard the security of Hong Kong and the nation.