The Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, yesterday reshuffled three top posts, breaking up a government team that had served since before the former British colony was handed back to China. The move, notably first announced by Beijing, sees a Tung loyalist become secretary for constitutional affairs, a job that requires defending an unpopular election bill to scale back democracy in Hong Kong.
Mr Nicholas Ng (50) moves from that post to secretary for transport, replacing Mr Gordon Siu (51). Mr Ng is being replaced by Mr Michael Suen (53) who was secretary for home affairs.
Mr David Lan (57) is appointed secretary for home affairs, moving from Tokyo, where he has been principal Hong Kong economic and trade representative. Mr Siu becomes head of the Central Policy Unit, a think-tank which advises the government on strategic decisions, the statement said.
Mr Tung succeeded Hong Kong's last colonial governor, Mr Chris Patten, on July 1st, when China resumed sovereignty over the territory after more than 156 years of British rule.
The reshuffle was first announced on Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency. The dispatch said China's State Council had made "the appointment of principal officials . . . based on (Mr Tung's) recommendations and nominations". It also called Mr Ng "secretary for electoral affairs", while the Hong Kong government said his job was for "constitutional affairs".
Analysts were surprised by the announcement. In the run-up to the handover, Mr Tung had been playing a "continuity card", choosing to retain the top officials of the colonial era in their jobs to help reassure the public and business community.
But Mr Ng seemed clearly uncomfortable in the post-handover period. Under Mr Patten, he arduously defended pro-democracy changes to Hong Kong's electoral system. Under Mr Tung, he had to defend the China-created interim legislature which replaced the elected Legislative Council and argue for electoral changes that would scale back emancipation.
Mr Suen, a former pillar of the colonial era, became a right-hand man to Mr Tung in the run-up to the handover. He was author of a series of sweeping controls to limit the rights of political parties and control on street demonstrations.
"They are moving Nicholas Ng to another job to save him embarrassment," commented Ms Emily Lau, a pro-democracy advocate who was ousted as legislator by the Provisional Legislature.
But Ms Kitty Choi, a spokesperson for the Chief Secretary, Mr Anson Chan, downplayed the reshuffle, saying staff changes "are normal [and] happen from time to time". Three other senior appointments were also made.