Beijing-friendly politician Shiu Sin-por is expected to take the helm of the Central Policy Unit, the government's top think tank.
Shiu has been a member of the unit since 2007 and is a Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
He will succeed Professor Lau Siu-kai, who stepped down last month after a 10-year stint, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, Professor Wong Chack-kie, assistant director of Chinese University's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, is expected to be appointed an adviser to the think tank.
The unit has been preparing the documents for their appointments in the past two weeks and is still looking for two more people to fill other vacancies.
Shiu, who was executive director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute before joining the government, has close ties with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who is a former chairman of the institute's board of directors.