Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa said yesterday he is confident his choice of principal officials will be endorsed by Chinese leaders when he submits the list in Beijing today.
'The central Government has repeatedly expressed confidence in me and Hong Kong. I myself am, of course, confident about my nominations.
'As to how the actual situation is, I think we will have to wait until Thursday or Friday, after the decision on appointments is made, for further discussion,' he said after the first meeting of his Cabinet.
He said it was necessary for him to go to Beijing so that he could communicate his views on each of the principal civil servants he wanted to serve his administration.
He would still not say whether all serving policy secretaries qualified to become Chinese nationals would be retained or whether there was a possibility that China would screen any out for political reasons.
'I nominate and the central Government approves. More details will be available after my trip,' Mr Tung said, adding he wanted a reasonably quick response.
