The government announced the appointment of permanent secretaries to support the new ministers, completing the lineup of the top ruling team in the next administration.
Of the 18 permanent secretaries appointed, only two - permanent secretary for development (planning and lands) Raymond Young Lap-moon and permanent secretary for food and health (food) Stella Hung Kwok Wai-ching - are new to the rank. Mr Young only last year became director of the celebrations co-ordination office overseeing the handover ceremonies. He has worked closely with incoming secretary for development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at the Home Affairs Bureau, which oversees the celebrations. Ms Hung is currently Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation.
Most of those covered by yesterday's announcement are re-appointees to the directorate grade-eight positions, which offer a monthly salary of HK$181,050.
They include Andrew Wong Ho-yuen, a close aide of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, as permanent secretary for the civil service.
The two permanent secretaries for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau are Yvonne Choi Ying-pik, as commerce and economic development (commerce, industry and tourism); and Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, as commerce and economic development (communications and technology).
Paul Tang Kwok-wai, currently permanent secretary for economic development and labour, will be redesignated permanent secretary for labour and welfare. He will pass on his commissioner of labour role to Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching, who headed the Poverty Commission secretariat before joining the Constitutional Affairs Bureau.