HONG KONG'S NEXT CABINET APPROVED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 HONG KONG 001698 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2032 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL PINR CH HK SUBJECT: HONG KONG'S NEXT CABINET APPROVED Classified By: Acting Deputy Principal Officer Laurent Charbonnet. Rea sons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Central Government, on the nomination of Hong Kong's Chief Executive (CE),Donald Tsang, approved the appointments of principal officials for the third term of the HKSAR Government, as well as five officials who will head HK's disciplined services. Biographies for each new official are provided in para 6 below. CE Tsang remarked at the press conference to announce the appointments that, "the appointments include incumbents and several new faces, ensuring stability and continuity, as well as adding some new blood to our governing team." The CE labeled his new cabinet "people-based," and said he urged all principal officials to "reach out to the community, to talk with the general public, to feel the public pulse and to embrace public sentiment...so that our policies may truly meet the needs of our people." To the outgoing officials, including Chief Secretary for Administration Raphael Hui and five Directors of Bureaus, Tsang extended his thanks and gratitude, proclaiming that SIPDIS Hong Kong has "overcome one challenge after another." (Note: The term "Director of Bureau" is used synonymously with "Secretary" in the HK Government. End note.) ¶2. (U) The five departing Secretaries include: former Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho, Secretary for Economic SIPDIS Development and Labor Stephen Ip, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao, Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li, and Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Joseph Wong. Donald Tsang's new cabinet structure increases the number of policy bureaus from 11 to 12. End summary. ¶3. (C) Comment: The new cabinet, while showing CE Tsang's free hand in choosing his team members, reflects his strong preference towards veteran civil servants and his increasingly pragmatic approach to relations with Beijing. Relatedly, Tsang Tak-sing's appointment has raised a few eyebrows. On one hand, his appointment is seen as a sort of litmus test for local reaction over, and the vindication of, pro-Beijing political prisoners under the British rule. A local National People's Congress Deputy since 1988 and a full-time advisor to the Central Policy Unit, Tsang served two years in jail after being arrested during the 1967 riot for distributing pamphlets denouncing colonial education in local schools. Furthermore, Tak-sing,s appointment is seen as the CE,s first conciliatory gesture of power sharing with Beijing. End comment. ¶4. (SBU) CE Tsang was roundly, but expectedly, critized by many in the press for nominating too many civil servants, and not enough party representation, thus stunting the growth of political talent across the HKSAR. According to the "South China Morning Post," Timothy Wong Ka-ying, deputy director of Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at Chinese University, said the dominance of civil servants reflected Beijing's preference for a more stable ruling model for Hong Kong. He also said the cabinet's composition had taken into account the immaturity of party politics in the city. Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun called the lack of outside appointees "a backward step" for the ministerial, or "accountability", system. Allen Lee Peng-fei, a National People's Congress delegate and former executive councillor, said the central government had to examine the impact on the neutrality of the civil service of the growing trend of civil servants becoming political appointees. Lee also said the government would find it hard to nurture political talent if the cabinet was filled with former civil servants. Emily Lau Wai-hing, of The Frontier, was also disappointed by the dominance of ex-civil servants. She said it showed there was no initiative on the part of the government to pursue party politics. ¶5. (U) Fifteen principal officials appointed under the accountability system are on non-civil service terms. They are: Secretaries of Departments SIPDIS -------------- Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. Henry Tang Ying-yen Financial Secretary, Mr. John Tsang Chun-wah Secretary for Justice, Mr. Wong Yan Lung, SC SIPDIS Directors of Bureaux -------------- Secretary for Education, Mr. Michael Suen Ming-yeung SIPDIS Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr. SIPDIS Frederick Ma Si-hang Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr. SIPDIS HONG KONG 00001698 002 OF 007 Stephen Lam Sui-lung Secretary for Security, Mr. Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong SIPDIS Secretary for Food and Health, Dr. York Chow SIPDIS Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms. Denise Yue Chung-yee SIPDIS Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr. Tsang Tak-sing SIPDIS Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung SIPDIS Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor SIPDIS ¶K. C. Chan Secretary for Development, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor SIPDIS Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Edward Yau Tang-wah SIPDIS Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms. Eva Cheng SIPDIS Additionally, five principal officials were appointed heads of the disciplined services: Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tang King-shing Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr. Timothy Tong Hin-ming Director of Audit, Mr. Benjamin Tang Director of Immigration, Mr. Lai Tung-kwok Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr. Richard Yuen Ming-fai. Meanwhile, the Government announced the appointments of Mr. Norman Chan as the Director of the Chief Executive's Office and Professor Lau Siu-kai as the Head of the Central Policy Unit. ¶6. (U) Following are the biographical notes on the appointed officials: Mr. Henry Tang Ying-yen -------------- Mr. Tang, age 54, was appointed the Financial Secretary in August 2003. Prior to this appointment, he was the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology. Mr. Tang has been a member of the Executive Council since 1997. He served as a member of the Legislative Council for seven years from 1991 to 1998. Mr. Tang also served extensively on various government boards and public bodies, including the Trade Development Council, Town Planning Board, University Grants Committee, and Council of the City University of Hong Kong. Before joining the Government in 2002, Mr. Tang was a leading industrialist in Hong Kong. He served as the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries between 1995 and 2001. He was also a Committee Member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Mr. John Tsang Chun-wah -------------- Mr. Tsang, age 56, studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a master degree in bilingual education from Boston State College and a master degree in public administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Mr. Tsang joined the civil service in 1982. His senior postings include Private Secretary to the Governor from 1995 to 1997; Director-General SIPDIS of the London Economic and Trade Office from 1997 to 1999; Commissioner of Customs and Excise from 1999 to 2001; Secretary for Planning and Lands from 2001 to 2002; Permanent SIPDIS Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and SIPDIS Lands) from 2002 to 2003; and Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology from August 2003 to January 2006. He was appointed the Director of the Chief Executive's Office in January 2006. Mr. Wong Yan Lung -------------- Prior to his appointment as Secretary for Justice in October 2005, Mr. Wong, age 43, was a lawyer in private practice. He sat as Deputy High Court Judge of the Court of First Instance in July and August in 2003, and was a Council member of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association from 1989 to 1990, from 1997 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2005 and Chairman of the Special Committee on Legal Education of the Hong Kong Bar Association from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Wong has served as Chairman of the Buildings Appeal Tribunal, of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards, and of the Non-local Higher and Professional Education Appeal Board. He has also served as Vice-Chairman of CEDAR Fund and Member of the Steering Committee and Volunteer of the Hong Kong Christian Concern for the Homeless. Mr. Wong graduated from the Cambridge University and was conferred Bachelor of Arts (Law) and Master of Arts (Law) Degrees. In 1987, he was called to the Bar in England & Wales and in the same year he was also HONG KONG 00001698 003 OF 007 called to the Bar in Hong Kong. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in Hong Kong in 2002. Mr. Michael Suen Ming-yeung -------------- Mr. Suen, age 63, joined the Government in 1966 as an Administrative Officer and was promoted to the rank of Director of Bureau in January 1991. During the early years of his career, he served in the former New Territories Administration, Resettlement Department and Environment Branch. Mr. Suen was Deputy Secretary for Transport in September 1981; Director, City Services in the Urban Services Department in November 1983 and Deputy Director, Regional Services Department in April 1985. Mr. Suen became Director of Regional Services in June 1986 and Regional Secretary (New Territories) of the City and New Territories Administration in December 1987. Mr. Suen was appointed Secretary for Constitutional Affairs in March 1989 and Secretary for Home Affairs in November ¶1991. Between March and early July in 1997, he was on temporary secondment to the Chief Executive's Office as the Secretary for Policy Co-ordination. He resumed his post as SIPDIS Secretary for Home Affairs on July 8, 1997 and took up the SIPDIS appointment as Secretary for Constitutional Affairs on August 4, 1997. Mr Suen has been Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands since July 2002. Mr. Frederick Ma Si-hang -------------- Before assuming the post of Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in July 2002, Mr. Ma, aged 55, was Group Chief Financial Officer of PCCW Ltd. He was also an executive director of the Group. Mr. Ma has more than 20 years' experience in the global financial services industry. He has worked in New York, Toronto and London for nearly 10 years. Before joining the Government, Mr. Ma held a number of public service positions, including serving on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Mr. Stephen Lam Sui-lung -------------- Mr. Lam, age 51, joined the Administrative Service in October 1978 and rose to the rank of Director of Bureau in August ¶2001. Senior positions held by Mr. Lam over the years include: Administrative Assistant to the Chief Secretary from 1989 to 1991; Director, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Toronto from 1991 to 1994; Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from 1994 to 1996; Director, Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office from 1996 to 1997, Director of Administration and Development in Department of Justice from 1997 to 1999, and Information Co-ordinator from 1999 to 2002. He has been Secretary for Constitutional Affairs since July ¶2002. Mr Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong -------------- Mr. Lee, age 58, joined the Government as an Immigration Officer in 1974. He became Assistant Director of Immigration in 1995, and was promoted to Deputy Director of Immigration in 1997. Mr Lee was Director of Immigration between 1998 and ¶2002. He was appointed the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of the HKSAR in July 2002, and has been Secretary for Security since August 2003. Mr. Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Hong Kong. He also received professional training from Tsinghua University on the Mainland, Oxford University in the United Kingdom, as well as Harvard University. Mr. Lee was awarded the Hong Kong Immigration Service Medal for Distinguished Service in 1998 in recognition of his exemplary contribution. Dr. York Chow -------------- Dr. Chow, age 59, is an orthopaedic surgeon by profession. He was appointed Hospital Chief Executive of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1992 and Hospital Chief Executive of Queen Mary Hospital in 2001. He was subsequently appointed Cluster Chief Executive of the Hong Kong West Cluster of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority in 2002. He took up the post of Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food in October 2004. SIPDIS HONG KONG 00001698 004 OF 007 Professionally, he served as President of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association, Vice-President of the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and was elected Council Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. He is currently an Honorary Professor in Rehabilitation Science at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and an Honorary Professor of the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Chow participates actively in voluntary and community work. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and the Sports Institute, and as a member of the Rehabilitation Task Force. He was elected Vice-President of the International Paralympic Committee in 1997-2005 and was Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled between 1986 and 2004. Ms. Denise Yue Chung-yee -------------- Ms. Yue, age 54, graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1974 and Harvard University in 1988. She joined the civil service in 1974 and has served in a number of senior positions, including Deputy Director of Regional Services from 1991 to 1992; Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry from 1992 to 1993; Director-General of Industry from 1993 to 1995; Secretary for Trade and Industry from 1995 to 1998; Secretary for the Treasury from 1998 to 2002; and Permanent SIPDIS Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Commerce and SIPDIS Industry) from 2002 to 2006. She was appointed Secretary for the Civil Service in January 2006. Mr. Tsang Tak-sing -------------- Mr. Tsang, age 58, has served as a Member of the Central Policy Unit since 1998. Before joining the Government, Mr. Tsang was a journalist for nearly 30 years. Mr. Tsang is a SIPDIS Hong Kong Deputy to the National People's Congress. He holds two Master's degrees from the University of Hong Kong: Master of International and Public Affairs; and Master of Arts in Comparative Literature. Mr. Tsang was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung -------------- Mr. Cheung, age 56, joined the Information Officer Grade of the Government in July 1972. He transferred to the Administrative Service in September 1979, and was promoted to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2004. Mr. Cheung has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Finance Branch, Home Affairs Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Government House, the former Industry Department, the former Trade Department, the former Financial Secretary's Office, Judiciary and Central Policy Unit. He was Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower from March 1996 to SIPDIS January 1999, Commissioner for Labour from January 1999 to June 2000, and Director of Education from June 2000 to June ¶2002. He was Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour),later retitled as Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour)/Commissioner for Labour from July 2002 to March 2007. Professor K. C. Chan -------------- Prof. Chan, age 50, joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1993 and was appointed Dean of Business and Management in July 2002. Professor Chan received his bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan University and both his M.B.A. and Ph.D. in finance from the University of Chicago. His research interests include pricing of risky assets, the performance of equity trading strategies, market microstructure, and regulatory issues dealing with the efficiency of financial markets. Professor Chan held a number of public service positions including: Chairman of the Consumer Council, member of the Commission on Strategic Development, Commission on Poverty, the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, the Hang Seng Index Advisory Committee, and the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. He is a former President of the Asian Finance Association and currently serves as President of the Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools. Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor -------------- HONG KONG 00001698 005 OF 007 Mrs. Lam, age 50, joined the Administrative Service in August 1980, and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2006. Mrs. Lam has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Housing Branch, the former Office of Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Security Branch, the former Survey Office, the former Securities Review Committee, the former Monetary Affairs Branch, the former Lands and Works Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the Department of Health and the former Finance Branch (subsequently renamed Finance Bureau). She was Director of Social Welfare from August 2000 to October 2003, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and SIPDIS Lands) from November 2003 to May 2004, Director-General, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London from September 2004 to March 2006. She has been Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs since March 2006. Mr. Edward Yau Tang-wah -------------- Mr. Yau, age 47, joined the Administrative Service in August 1981, and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2005. Mr. Yau has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Security Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Transport Branch, Correctional Services Department and the former Finance Branch. He was Deputy Director-General of Trade (later renamed Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry) from January 1999 to May 2001, Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington from May 2001 to April 2004, and Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower from April 2004 to April 2006. He has been Director of Information Services since April 2006. Ms. Eva Cheng -------------- Ms. Cheng, age 47, joined the Administrative Service in August 1983 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2007. Ms. Cheng has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Economic Services Branch, the Correctional Services Department, the former Secretariat of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Transport Branch and the former Financial Secretary's Office. She was Deputy Head of the Central Policy Unit from April 1996 to April 1997 and from August 1997 to December 1998, Deputy Director of Administration from April to August 1997, Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (later SIPDIS renamed Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology) from December 1998 to March 2003, and Commissioner for Tourism from March 2003 to March 2006. She has been Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Ec o nomic Development) since April 2006. Mr. Tang King-shing -------------- Mr. Tang, age 53, joined the Hong Kong Police Force in July 1976 as a Probationary Inspector. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 1996, Assistant Commissioner in 1999, Senior Assistant Commissioner in 2002 and Deputy Commissioner in December 2003. He was appointed as Commissioner of Police in January 2007. In recognition of his police service, Mr. Tang has been awarded the Hong Kong Police Medals for Distinguished and Meritorious Service, the Colonial and HKSAR Police Long Service Medals and the Chief Executive's Commendation. He holds a Master's degree in International and Public Affairs. Mr. Timothy Tong Hin-ming -------------- Mr. Tong, age 57, joined the Government in November 1972, serving initially as an Executive Officer and later as an Assistant Trade Officer. He joined the Administrative Service in April 1992 at the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade C and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2005. Mr. Tong has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Trade Department, the former Security Branch, the former Urban Services Department, the former Education and Manpower HONG KONG 00001698 006 OF 007 Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, Home Affairs Department and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva. He was Deputy Secretary for Security from January 1999 to September 2003. He has been Commissioner of Customs and Excise since September 2003. Mr. Benjamin Tang -------------- After graduating from the University of Hong Kong in Economics and Sociology and a brief stint working in the private sector, Mr. Tang, age 55, joined the Hong Kong civil service as an Administrative Officer in October 1974. He also studied at the Oxford University, the London Business School and the Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision. He served in various bureaux and departments and worked in policy areas that covered district administration, sports and culture, transport, municipal services and the environment. His career also included working in the Hong Kong Government Office in London in the mid 80s and the Independent Commission Against Corruption in the early 90s. He was the Government Printer from March 1998 to January 2000 and the Commissioner of Insurance from January 2000 to November 2003. Mr. Tang left the Administrative Service and took up the post of Director of Audit in December 2003. Mr. Lai Tung-kwok -------------- Mr. Lai, age 55, joined the Government as an Assistant Immigration Officer in December 1973. He was promoted to Immigration Officer in September 1980, to Senior Immigration Officer in September 1986, to Chief Immigration Officer in February 1990, to Assistant Principal Immigration Officer in May 1992, to Principal Immigration Officer in October 1995, to Senior Principal Immigration Officer in April 1997 and to Assistant Director of Immigration in February 1999. He was promoted to Deputy Director of Immigration in January 2001. Mr. Lai was appointed Director of Immigration in July 2002. Mr. Richard Yuen Ming-fai -------------- Mr. Yuen, age 51, joined the Administrative Service in August 1980 and is currently Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1. Mr. Yuen has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Security Branch, the former Home Affairs Department, the former Urban Services Department, the former Home Affairs Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Councils and Administration Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office, and the former Economic Services Branch. SIPDIS He was Deputy Secretary for Economic Services from October 1996 to August 1999; Private Secretary to the Chief Executive from August 1999 to October 2002; Deputy Di rector in the Chief Executive's Office from March 2003 to October 2003; and Commissioner of Insurance from December 2003 to July 2006. He has been the Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food since January 2007. Mr. Norman Chan -------------- Mr. Chan, age 53, was appointed Vice Chairman, Asia of Standard Chartered Bank in December 2005. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Chan was Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Having served as an Administrative Officer in the Hong Kong Government since 1976, he was appointed Deputy Director (Monetary Management) of the Office of the Exchange Fund in 1991. He became an Executive Director of the HKMA in 1993 and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 1996. Mr. Chan's responsibilities as Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA included reserves management and international affairs. Mr. Chan was Chairman of Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre and a member of the Committee on Governance and Political Development of the Commission on Strategic Development. Professor Lau Siu-kai -------------- Professor Lau, age 60, was appointed Head of the Central Policy Unit in July 2002. Before joining the Government, Professor Lau was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Sociology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was also Associate Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the university. He was actively involved in research work, covering social and political development as HONG KONG 00001698 007 OF 007 well as political systems. Cunningham