Educators have greeted the appointment of Michael Suen Ming-yeung as the new education secretary with optimism, saying they hope his selection may mark an end to the top-down style which has dominated the implementation of reforms in recent years.
Despite the former housing secretary's lack of education-related experience, educators and teacher-representatives are hopeful he will bring a more 'listening ear' to the post than the 'heavy-handed' style of his predecessor, Arthur Li Kwok-cheung who is due to step down tomorrow.
Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen announced the change last Saturday, when he named Mr Suen along with other members of his 15-seat cabinet.
But the government is remaining tight-lipped on the reasons for Professor Li's departure.
Professor Li's resignation had been called for by pro-democracy legislators and academics following the release of the report from the inquiry looking into claims he had attempted to interfere with the autonomy of the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
Although the inquiry's report, which was published last week, cleared Professor Li, it was strongly critical of his credibility as a witness and said he 'more likely than not' told members of the institute's ruling council that the institute would be 'raped' if they did not agree to merge with Chinese University.
Professor Li has not made any public statements relating to his departure or his plans for the future, and turned down repeated requests for an interview.
