All Top Positions Are Decided By CE: Carrie Lam

Carrie Lam on Tuesday said that decisions on all important appointments are made by the Chief Executive, amid reports that she aims to push out the current Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation head Fanny Law.

Law is expected to step down next month.

"All these important appointments are made by the Chief Executive. So I don't know what do you mean by I have a hand [in the matter]," Lam answered when asked whether she was behind the move. "I have to agree or disagree with important appointments to committees, especially positions of chairmen."

She added that she cannot comment further because her administration has yet to announce a successor to Law.

The Chief Executive also praised Law for her work.

"In her four years of service she has provided the leadership to lay a very strong foundation for us to now take forward the innovation and technology policy blueprint," Lam said.

"Fanny is perhaps the Exco member that I appeared most often together with in attending innovation and technology functions. And she is still serving and will continue to serve in the Executive Council."

Law did not respond to media questions. She said she will be organising a tea gathering later this month and explain her position then.

According to reports, Law is said to have had differences with Innovation and Technology Secretary Nicholas Yang.

Last year Law was linked to a row after an official at Sweden's renowned medical university Karolinska Institutet – which has a unit in Hong Kong – wrote in a blog that it had been difficult "to carry on their activities in complete academic freedom" in the SAR.

Reports also said the incident prompted Lam to write to the Swedish institution to calm the situation.

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