Fifteen New Bureau Heads Named

The State Council on Sunday appointed incumbent officials and senior civil servants to head 15 bureaus under the leadership of incoming Chief Executive John Lee.

But there are a few ministers who are new to the government.

One of them is head of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Lo Chung-mau, who will be in charge of the revamped Health Bureau.

Incumbent lawmakers Alice Mak and Sun Dong have been named Minister for Home and Youth Affairs and Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.

The only businessman on John Lee’s team, Algernon Yau – CEO of Greater Bay Airlines – will lead the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.

Several veteran civil servants will take up new roles as political appointees.

Permanent Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn, will become Development Secretary; Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung, will become the bureau's head; and Commissioner for Labour, Chris Sun, will be Labour and Welfare Secretary.

The current Director of Architectural Services, Winnie Ho, is to head the new Housing Bureau, while former Permanent Secretary for Development, Lam Sai-hung, will be in charge of the Transport and Logistics Bureau.

A handful of incumbent officials are staying on, although some will take up new roles.

Current Education Secretary Kevin Yeung will be moved to head the new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, and his deputy, Christine Choi, will step up as education chief.

Under Secretary for Environment Tse Chin-wan will step up to head the new Environment and Ecology Bureau.

Secretary for Security, Chris Tang; Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui; and Constitutional and Mainland Affairs chief, Erick Tsang, will remain in their posts.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive's Office will be headed by the current Permanent Secretary for Security, Carol Yip.