Will you 'friend' CY Leung? Hong Kong chief executive opens Facebook account, urges ministers to get on Facebook

Leung Chun-ying is telling his ministers to make the most of social media to put their messages across, but his governing team has been slow to personally reach out to the public through these platforms.

The chief executive took the plunge on Sunday by opening a closed Facebook account under the name "CY Leung". A government source said Leung recently asked his ministers to communicate with members of the public on social media platforms.

But only education minister Eddie Ng Hak-kim thus far responded to Leung's latest call.

On the site, Leung asked people to plant lotus and offered a suggestion for a hotel in the Maldives to Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing.

"I'm still learning how to use Facebook," Leung told reporters yesterday, adding: "Using Facebook is not as easy for people my age as it is for people your age. I'll do it step by step."

While the public could view what he published, only those added as friends by the chief executive could like or comment on his posts.