BRITISH PRIME Minister Tony Blair took only a few hours after his re-election to announce his cabinet reshuffle. President George W. Bush, on the other hand, spent two days before nominating his secretary of state.
In Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's case the process is set to last for weeks.
Mr Tung's new accountability system is meant to make government more decisive and responsive. However, the way he is dragging his feet on naming the first batch of ministers for the SAR has already started to undermine his reform initiative.
The idea to inject political appointees into the top echelon was first mooted in his Policy Address in October 2000. Sixteen months passed before he tabled his blueprint at the assembly on Wednesday. The public may have to wait for another two months before the new line-up is unveiled.
There has been scathing public criticism, which is bound to intensify.
Senior civil servants are also anxious about how their career prospects will be affected, as many personnel changes can only be finalised with the new principal officials' blessings.