Environmentalists yesterday expressed concerns over Edward Yau Tang-wah's lack of experience in the field.
Most said they were unfamiliar with Mr Yau, who will head a new environment bureau, and suggested he brush up on the subject to prepare to tackle the burning issues of air quality and energy conservation.
Friends of the Earth spokesman Hahn Chu Hon-keung said the group was concerned the minister had no background in environmental protection. Mr Hahn said it was unclear whether or not Mr Yau would act in the interests of the environment should the chief executive push economic initiatives detrimental to it.
The chief executive officer of the Conservancy Association, Lister Cheung Lai-ping, said: 'He has much experience of administrative work ... but environmental protection needs knowledge and passion.
'I hope he will keep in close contact with local environmental groups and try to establish a working partnership with us,' she added.
Albert Lai Kwong-tak, chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development, pointed out that Mr Yau's rank in the civil service was much lower than that of his fellow ministerial recruits, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Eva Cheng Yu-wah.