First lady takes over Betty Tung's office
Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei, wife of the chief executive, has taken over an office at government headquarters previously occupied by her predecessor Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping when her husband served as the city's leader.
But unlike the wives of governors, Mrs Tsang will not have a designated working space at Government House when she and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen move into the colonial mansion.
The first lady inherited the 12-square-metre office on the fifth floor of the Central Government Offices in Lower Albert Road from Mrs Tung after Mr Tsang took up the post of chief executive in June.
A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office said it provided a working space within the office premises to Mrs Tsang so that timely and effective support could be provided for her.
Mrs Tsang was provided with a working space because as the wife of the chief executive she had to receive foreign dignitaries and their spouses, correspond regularly with members of the public, and attend various public functions, the spokesman said.
'This long-standing arrangement for the wife of the chief executive enables her to discharge her official duties more effectively,' the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the Chief Executive's Office had no separate establishment to co-ordinate Mrs Tsang's activities and so did not incur additional public spending.
Mrs Tsang is patron to 38 charitable and non-government organisations, compared with more than 60 organisations headed by Mrs Tung when Tung Chee-hwa served as chief executive.
When Mrs Tung was provided an office at the Central Government Offices, critics suggested this was not appropriate as she had no official title.
Others were more sympathetic. They said wives of some foreign leaders, such as those of the British prime minister and the US president, have offices in their husbands' official workplaces.
The spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office said a designated working space would not be set up at Government House for Mrs Tsang.
'But she may utilise the office areas for matters of her official role when necessary,' he said.
