No Political Link In New Appointment: Law Chi-kwong

Labour Secretary Law Chi-kwong has denied suggestions that the appointment of a former pro-establishment legislator as his new under secretary is a move to pacify the camp after its defeats in last year's district council elections.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Law said that Ho Kai-ming from the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) was the first candidate that came to mind as he had demonstrated an nterest in politics and knowledge in policy formation.

"A lot of people asked who picked [Ho], the answer is simple: of course it was me who picked him," Law said.

Law said that although working for the government is like working in a "hot kitchen", a lot of people are still willing to join the administration

Ho had previously been a vocal critic of government labour policies. But he said on Monday that he doesn’t think that would affect his working relationship with his new boss, saying he and Law can learn from each others' strengths and use their respective experiences to improve labour and welfare policies.

He said he will do his best to learn from Law about how to make good labour policy, and that he will bring the "concerns of the trade unions and employees to the government to deepen the discussion for the policy.”

Ho announced on Saturday that he was resigning as an FTU legislator to join the administration, taking over the government role after his predecessor, Caspar Tsui, was promoted to Home Affairs Secretary as part of a reshuffle in April.

He had represented the labour functional constituency since 2016, and was also a district councillor in Kwun Tong for several years, until he lost his seat in last November's polls when pro-democracy candidates crushed their pro-establishment rivals across the territory.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Carrie Lam has also appointed DAB member Julian Ip as a political assistant to Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui. Ip also took up his new post on Monday.