Insights from Hong Kong

Posts Tagged ‘Government’

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CY Leung Unveils his New Hong Kong Cabinet

In Hong Kong on 30 June 2012 at 9:00 AM

Chief Executive-elect CY Leung introduced to the media on Thursday his dream team of principal officials of the fourth term HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government.

New Hong Kong Cabinet

Commentators are generally unimpressed with the made-up of Leung’s cabinet particularly the six new faces among the three secretaries and 12 bureau directors appointed.  They included Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Transport & Housing Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Education Eddie Ng, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for Food and Health Dr. Ko Wing-man and Secretary for Development Mak Chai-kwong.

The newcomers were not only criticized for a lack of administrative experience but also their close linkage with the central government except Anthony Cheung.  An ExCo member and President of the Hong Kong Education Institute, Cheung was the former vice chairman of the Democratic Party.  He’s become the first principal secretary that has a background from the opposition camp.  Cheung has been given a significant role in charge of the city’s housing and land policy once CY Leung’s new government structure has been approved by the LegCo.

Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Transport and Housing

The media was also critical of officials inherited from the third term Government.  Financial Secretary John Tsang, who will take the same position in the new government, was still being judged for the public outcry that he had caused last year proposing to inject a budget surplus into people’s MPF.  Secretary for Development Carrie Lam, the only female principle official in the new governing team, will become chief secretary for administration this Sunday.  Although Lam has consistently been rated as the most popular official, there are concerns that she might not be suitable for the CS role because her “fighter” approach may create friction with other officials.  Lam told reporters yesterday that she wanted to shake off that nickname.

Maybe Lam should have been appointed Director of Audit which is meant to break relationships performing its function to scrutinize others government agencies’ work.  David Sun, former managing partner of Ernst & Young and a known ally of CY Leung, was instead appointed to the post which had been taken by civil servants historically.  Sun’s taking up of the position raised eyebrows and created controversy that the department’s independence would be jeopardized.

Observers said many cabinet members were actually second-best options as Leung’s ideals rejected to work for the government.  This is hardly surprising for a job that is expected to spend half, if not more, of the time fighting fire.  At yesterday’s press conference, officials were asked to comment on the illegal structures at their boss’s home and whether they had any at their owns.

So for the new cabinet, the priority is not to think of what can be done to make lives better but to hire a buildings surveyor. (Leung said he wasn’t aware of the illegal structures because he’s only a general practice surveyor, not a buildings surveyor.)

Guest Author

Today I am fortunate to have a guest author for “Facing China.”

Vivian Au is a Director at Kreab Gavin Anderson Hong Kong.  Her specialty is in regulation management and public policy issues.

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#3Shots Highlights: How Social Media is Challenging Government Communications in Japan, China

In China, Public Affairs, Social Media on 24 April 2012 at 1:20 PM

Social Media is challenging the traditional forms of government communications, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Japan and China. In the aftermath of the 3/11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in Japan the government started communicating in English across platforms like Twitter. Social media was needed to ensure audiences worldwide were abreast of the latest safety information. One year on it’s still vital as Japan seeks to re-build and return to normalcy.

In China the high-profile collapse of Bo Xilai has led to unprecedented censorship moves to try to staunch rumours of political unrest and a possible coup. Yet despite the best efforts of censors more than one million updates have been posted from China on sites like Sina Weibo and Twitter. There are creative ways around the blockades.

These were the two examples used to portray the fast-evolving nature of social media in government communications. Last night 30+ communications, business and social media leaders gathered at Azure Restaurant on the top of LKF Hotel in Central, Hong Kong. They contributed to the discussion led by Jonathan Kushner and Walter Jennings, both of Kreab Gavin Anderson – the sponsor for the night’s event.

In China, the challenges are only going to become more complex. Mobile internet is spreading rapidly and the major telecommunications carriers are investing US$11 billion in China over the next three years. Expected uptake of 4G technology means faster uploads of richer content – like photos and videos – that aren’t as easy to “word search” and censor. What does this mean for the “Great Firewall of China”? And if there is free-flowing information what does that mean politically in the long-term?

These were a few of the issues addressed by the gathering. For more information and to sign up for notices on our next event, please visit Meet Up: http://www.meetup.com/3Shots/

You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #3Shots.

For a copy of the presentation from last night, click here: #3Shots of Social Media – Challenges for Japan, China – Social Media – KGA

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