LEE TO LOOK BEYOND FAMILIAR FACES
New blood from outside government expected to be appointed, with some incumbents not returning
Chief executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to recruit able and experienced talent for his team, as the Post learned political parties have begun floating names and some members of his campaign team have been tipped for top jobs.
More new faces from outside government are expected to be appointed ministers, with Lee considering a government makeover in line with his “resultoriented” approach to leadership, sources said.
“To implement my policy goals, I will shortly be inviting able and experienced people who have the passion and commitment to join my governing team,” Lee, 64, said in his victory speech.
He added that his administration would work in concert with the Legislative Council to raise the city’s governance capability, and strengthen dialogue and communication between officials and lawmakers to solve problems jointly.
“My government will be determined to confront the wellentrenched issues that have faced Hong Kong for many years, take decisive steps and adopt efficient and effective actions to resolve them,” he said.
With less than two months before he is sworn in as chief executive on July 1, Lee is expected to be busy deciding on the people for his team.
He said last month that he was inclined to adopt a sweeping government restructuring plan drawn up by outgoing leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to reorganise bureaus and focus on issues such as housing.
The restructure also includes adding two more bureaus to make 15 in total, and strengthening the city’s No 2 and No 3 positions with deputies. Lee would also need to find capable leaders to oversee new and important bureaus such as housing, culture and tourism, as well as education and home affairs, all areas ripe for reform.
A pro-establishment source close to Lee’s campaign team told the Post that to fill all the cabinet positions, he was considering several of his 16 campaign deputy directors.
They include former constitutional and mainland affairs minister Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, 57, whose name surfaced recently as a dark horse for the No 2 position of chief secretary. Tam, who is currently an executive director of corporate affairs for the Jockey Club, was in charge of Lee’s campaign activities.
“Raymond is a possible candidate as he has a very good relationship with our mainland counterparts, and is also a former official who knows the government well,” a source said.
But those familiar with the discussions said other serious contenders for the city’s No 2 post included constitutional affairs minister Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, who is seen as favoured by Beijing, and security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung.
At least three pro-establishment sources told the Post that towards the end of Lee’s campaign, pro-establishment political parties began offering names to Beijing’s liaison office for Lee to consider. Having party elites join the government is also encouraged by Beijing as a way to nurture younger political talents. The parties included the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU). Some names suggested include DAB lawmakers Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan and Elizabeth Quat, and Alice Mak Mei-kuen of the FTU, sources said.
A senior official in the current administration said many incumbent office-holders were not likely to continue, except for some current ministers who were considered capable and essential in the new administration.
The source expected finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po and justice minister Teresa Cheng Yeukwah to remain in Lee’s team, most likely helming their current portfolios, along with security minister Chris Tang and constitutional affairs minister Erick Tsang, either of whom could be chief secretary or sent to the bureaus in need of major reforms.
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of semi-official think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said Lee’s cabinet might need time to be finalised because apart from “personal ability and courage”, he must take into account “the Beijing factor” as the central government had the last say.
My government will […] confront the well-entrenched issues that have faced Hong Kong for many years
JOHN LEE