'Changes To Boost Power Of Those Behind CE'

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung says Wednesday's cabinet reshuffle is meaningless to the public, and is designed to enhance the powers of the Chief Executive, and those behind her.

Speaking soon after the State Council approved the new appointments, Yeung said usually such a reshuffle is carried out to show that an administration is making changes to take responsibility for a crisis.

“In this particular situation, I do not see any such things happening,” he said.

“In fact those who are removed, those who are leaving have they ever spoken to Hong Kong people and said sorry and said ‘I have done something wrong, I have to be held responsible?’ No."

"Those who got promoted, are they the ones who enjoyed wide support of the Hong Kong people? No,” said the opposition lawmaker. “In fact some of them are unknown to lot of us,” he said.

Yeung said it is shame that the most unpopular ministers like John Lee and Teresa Cheng have not been removed.

He said the changes made were “nothing but a power game at the highest level”.

But Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Priscilla Leung said she had been hearing for months that there would be a change in the government's leadership and she doesn't think it was politically motivated.

"Since last year, the riots and things, we already heard there was a possibility the government might have a personnel change. It's just to make sure there's a more effective administration etc," she said.

The DAB, meanwhile, brushed aside concerns that the appointment of two of its members as principal officials means the government is showing favouritism towards the pro-Beijing party.

The DAB's Caspar Tsui is the new secretary for home affairs, while the party's Christopher Hui is now secretary for financial services and the treasury.

Chairwoman Starry Lee said Hui has just resigned from his position as a standing committee member of the party, but it wouldn’t be necessary for the two officials to quit the DAB to maintain their political neutrality.

She added that she hopes the new officials will listen to people’s views and help relaunch Hong Kong following the months of social unrest and the current coronavirus outbreak.