Hong Kong's chief executive replaces 5 ministers in cabinet reshuffle

Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s chief executive replaced five of her ministers on Wednesday and denied that the cabinet reshuffle had anything to do with the recent controversies over Beijing’s growing influence in the special administrative region. Civil Service head Joshua Law, Home Affairs Secretary Lau Kong-wah, Innovation and Technology secretary Nicholas Yang and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau had all “served with dedication,” Carrie Lam said, according to state broadcaster RTHK.

Lau Kong-wah will be replaced by Labour and Welfare Undersecretary Caspar Tsui, Yang by Electrical and Mechanical Services Director Alfred Sit, and James Lau by Christopher Hui, Financial Services Development Council executive director, Efe news reported. Also replaced is Patrick Nip, who until Tuesday was secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, and will now occupy Law’s position of civil service head, while Immigration director Erick Tsang will replace him in his original role. The news of Nip’s dismissal broke out on Tuesday and came after he contradicted the official position on the status of the Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, although Lam ruled out that his replacement was linked to that controversy. Ahead of the media briefing, the mainland’s state news agency Xinhua said the State Council had approved appointments following nominations by Lam. Lam said that the new appointees will help Hong Kong emerge faster from the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (IANS)

Also Read: No new coronavirus case in Hong Kong: Reports

Also Watch: Quick Shoppe in Guwahati takes precautionary measures against the spread of Coronavirus