2021 Hong Kong cabinet reshuffle

Hong Kong Executive Council was reshuffled from 24 to 25 June 2021, the second in the chief executive term of Carrie Lam, and the first after National Security Law was imposed. John Lee, the Secretary for Security and a former police, was promoted to Chief Secretary.

Press conference after the reshuffle

Background

Following the anti-government protests started in 2019, Chief Executive Carrie Lam reshuffled her cabinet in the first time in 2020 but the popularity of the government remained low. National Security Law was imposed some months after the reshuffle, which effectively silenced dissidents in the city. The suppression against pro-democracy camp, mainly led by hawks in the cabinet, grew in 2021, including the arrest and trial of leading activists, along with the forced closure of Apple Daily.

In the morning on 24 June 2021, local online media HK01 claimed the Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung could soon be replaced.[1] Later that day, multiple local media outlets, cited sources, reported the cabinet will be reshuffled after a cabinet meeting in the morning. Secretary for Security John Lee will be promoted to Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Police Chris Tang will take on the post of Security.[2][3] Then Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, aged 70, will therefore retire.[4] Hong Kong Government announced the reshuffle on 25 June after Chinese State Council approved the new appointments and removal.[5]

Cabinet-level changes

Non-principal officials are italicised.

Colour key
  •      Joined the cabinet
  •      Left the cabinet
Minister Party Before reshuffle After reshuffle
Hon John Lee Ka-chiu SBS PDSM PMSM JP Nonpartisan Secretary for Security Chief Secretary for Administration
Chris Tang Ping-keung PDSM Nonpartisan Commissioner of Police Secretary for Security
Raymond Siu Chak-yee PDSM PMSM Nonpartisan Deputy Commissioner of Police Commissioner of Police
Hon Matthew Cheung Kin-chung GBM GBS JP Nonpartisan Chief Secretary for Administration Left the government

Reactions

Matthew Cheung, after more than four years as Chief Secretary, said that it has been true honour and privilege to serve Hong Kong for nearly 50 years. He wished that Hong Kong would maintain its long-term stability and prosperity, and all citizens of Hong Kong good health and happiness.[6]

John Lee, a former police, was promoted from Security Secretary to Chief Secretary, becoming the first after handover of Hong Kong in 1997 and the second in the history of Hong Kong, that a former security personnel became the second-in-command (William Caine, first head of Police Force was appointed as Colonial Secretary, equivalent to now Chief Secretary, in 1846), as nearly all of his predecessors were administrative officials.[7][8] The appointment was relatively surprising as rumours believed Carrie Lam-favoured Patrick Nip, then Civil Service Secretary and former Constitutional Secretary, would be raised to succeed Cheung.[9][10]

The two new cabinet ministers were the leading figures in cracking down the protests, and had been sanctioned by the United States in August 2020 for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.[11][12] The new cabinet signaled the dominance of the "hawks" and that the government will continue the hardline attitude. Some concerned the reshuffle could transform Hong Kong into a "police state".[10][13]

On 27 June 2021, Lee became the acting Chief Executive after Carrie Lam departed Hong Kong to attend celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, only four days after Lee's promotion.[14] John Lee would later become the chairman of Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, responsible for vetting election candidates.[15]

References
  1. 沙半山 (24 June 2021). "01消息 盛傳七一後更換政務司長 !". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. "【政情】傳張建宗短期離任 政界熱議接班熱門人選". Now 新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. "消息：李家超任政務司司長 鄧炳強任保安局局長". Now 新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. 鄭寶生 (24 June 2021). "消息：李家超升任政務司司長 一資歷為歷屆首見". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. "Government announces appointment and removal of Principal Officials (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  6. "Chief Secretary for Administration to leave post". www.info.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. "晚報：中國國務院任命李家超為港政務司長、鄧炳強為港保安局長". theinitium.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. "李家超任政務司司長 過去僅涉獵警政保安 破歷任「通才」慣例". 眾新聞 (in Chinese). 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  9. "政務司司長張建宗傳退任 聶德權及曾國衞成接任熱門". topick.hket.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  10. "首名保安背景官員升任港府「二號人物」，引發「警察政府」擔憂". BBC News 中文 (in Traditional Chinese). 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  11. "Treasury Sanctions Individuals for Undermining Hong Kong's Autonomy". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  12. "香港政府高層改組 保安系統官員掌權". 美國之音. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  13. "【警察政府】李家超任政務司司長、鄧炳強升保安局局長 七一前港府高層大變". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  14. "CE to attend celebration activities of 100th anniversary of founding of Communist Party of China in Beijing". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  15. "Chief Executive appoints Candidate Eligibility Review Committee members". www.info.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
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