Acting Hong Kong finance chief deflects talk Beijing won’t elevate him to succeed John Tsang
Professor Chan Ka-keung insists he is focusing on ‘working on the budget’
Hong Kong’s acting financial minister described himself as a team player willing to do whatever necessary to coordinate the government’s work amid speculation Beijing could appoint the city’s development minister as financial chief as early as this afternoon.
Professor Chan Ka-keung, who has been secretary for financial services and the treasury since 2007, also said he and his colleagues in the treasury bureau had been preparing for the city’s annual budget to be unveiled on February 22. He expressed confidence their work could be completed on schedule.
Chan sidestepped a question on Monday whether he would feel “disrespected” if he was not elevated to the position of financial secretary.