Anson Chan takes place as Executive Council moves in

Anson Chan Fang On-sang officially became Tung Chee-hwa's right-hand woman yesterday when the SAR Executive Council held its first meeting at its new offices.

Apart from Mrs Chan, three other members also attended the meeting for the first time. They were Financial Secretary Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Rosanna Wong Yick-ming and Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung.

They were absent from previous meetings of Mr Tung's Cabinet because they were members of Chris Patten's executive council.

Sitting to the right of Mr Tung were Mrs Chan, Sir Sze-yuen Chung, Yang Ti-liang, Nellie Fong Wong Kut-man, Tam Yiu-chung, Charles Lee Yeh-kwong and Chung Shui-ming.

To the left were Sir Donald, Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Leung Chun-ying, Ms Wong, Mr Ch'ien, Henry Tang Ying-yen and Antony Leung Kam-chung.

Mr Tung did not explain the seating plan, saying only: 'I am in a good mood.' The bauhinia emblem replaced the original royal insignia in the room in the Central Government Offices.