Though seen by some as a caretaker chief executive for a two-year term after Tung Chee-hwa's resignation, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is keen to make a fresh start towards his avowed goal of strong governance.
On Monday, information co-ordinator Andy Ho On-tat and special assistant Gary Chan Hak-kan reported for duty at the Chief Executive's Office. Last Friday, Lau Sai-leung, a former commentator and research head with the Democratic Party, took up a full-time post at the Central Policy Unit, which primarily serves Mr Tsang.
It followed the naming of eight new members to the Executive Council and a cabinet reshuffle triggered by the appointment of commerce and trade minister, John Tsang Chun-wah, to head the Chief Executive's Office.
Constrained by the political imperative of keeping the Tung team unchanged, Mr Tsang is anxious to show his desire for change in his team - both in form and substance.
Speaking about his own posting, Mr Ho, a former political editor at the South China Morning Post before he moved to a public-affairs consultancy, said Mr Tsang hoped he would bring fresh insight and ideas.
The government said in a statement that Mr Lau would help generate new policy ideas and enhance networking with stakeholders, among other jobs.
Meanwhile, the offer to Mr Chan, a rising young star at the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, is seen as a new channel to groom political talent.