Government poised to make appointments
Former head of HKU's nursing school in line to become deputy to health chief Ko Wing-man
The government's third batch of political appointees could be announced as early as this week, with two bureaus expected to name their undersecretaries.
Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee, former head of the University of Hong Kong's nursing school, is tipped to be undersecretary for food and health.
Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, currently principal assistant secretary for food and health, is in the frame to become the undersecretary for education. A government source said up to four undersecretaries and political assistants were expected to be named.
Chan began her career as a nursing student in Queen Mary Hospital in the 1970s, before moving into the academic field. She is now research director of HKU's nursing school.
Chan, an expert in health protection measures, such as tobacco controls, will be the deputy to Dr Ko Wing-man, head of the Food and Health Bureau and an orthopaedic specialist.
Yeung, 49, was the administrative assistant to Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing for more than four years before moving to the Food and Health Bureau in 2010. He could be the first administrative officer to leave the civil service and become a political appointee in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's administration.
He graduated from HKU in 1985 and joined the government in 1992. He earns about HK$130,000 a month as a principal assistant secretary. The Education Bureau has seen a major leadership overhaul in Leung's government, as former secretary Michael Suen Ming-yuen opted to retire and undersecretary Kenneth Chen Wei-on switched to become the new secretary general of the Legislative Council secretariat.
New chief Eddie Ng Hak-kim was heavily criticised for his handling of the National Education controversy in August. It is understood he prefers a deputy who is familiar with government operations.
Michelle Au Wing-tsz, environmental affairs officer of Friends of the Earth, is another favourite for the post of political assistant of the Environment Bureau. Au backed waste reduction and recycling as a green activist.
Meanwhile, a former police officer would likely be appointed the political assistant of the Security Bureau, according to another source. "The relevant procedures for the appointments have been cleared and announcements will be made in due course," the source said.
On June 30, the government announced its first batch of undersecretaries: Julia Leung Fung-yee for financial services and the treasury and Florence Hui Hiu-fai for home affairs.
On September 12, three more undersecretaries were appointed. They were John Lee Ka-chiu, for security; Christine Loh Kung-wai, for the environment; Yau Shing-mu, reappointed for transport and housing. Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, became political assistant at the Home Affairs Bureau.
