Government officials told to raise their profiles after Legco chief can't identify undersecretary

Government officials need to raise their profiles, lawmakers said, after the Legislative Council president was left stumped by the identity of the administration's representative at a meeting.

Their comments came as Legco chief Jasper Tsang Yok-sing apologised yesterday for failing to identify undersecretary for commerce Godfrey Leung King-kwok a day earlier.

The incident renewed questions about the roles of undersecretaries and political assistants, appointed by the chief executive to help ministers liaise with lawmakers but criticised for their high salaries and limited impact.

Lawmaker Lam Tai-fai, who represents the industrial sector, said it was hardly surprising that officials went unrecognised.

He admitted he had not had a personal meeting with Leung's boss, Greg So Kam-leung, since the commerce minister took office three years ago.

Liberal Party vice-chairman and textiles industry lawmaker Felix Chung Kwok-pan also called on officials to do more, adding those in the financial services and development bureaus had an equally "low profile".