BRIGHT young locals are being rushed up the senior ranks of the Government to form the basis of a post-1997 administration, despite the danger they may be rejected by China.
The accelerated promotion of Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Peter Lai Hing-ling, Deputy Secretary for the Treasury Kwong Ki-chi and Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower Lam Woon-kwong is aimed at preparing them to be principal officials in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.
Mapping out the leadership is understood to be a top priority for Governor Chris Patten, who is working closely with Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang and Secretary for the Civil Service Michael Sze Cho-cheung.
At least nine of the 22 principal official posts taken by expatriate officers will have to be filled by locals within the next two years. That is necessary to fulfil the Basic Law's nationality requirement that all principal officials should be Chinese with no right of abode in any foreign country.
More than a dozen candidates have been identified and the change of guard will begin in the summer.
The shuffle will be triggered by the departure of Secretary for Health and Welfare Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, who reaches the retirement age of 57 applying to officers on expatriate terms.
It is expected Director of Education Dominic Wong Shing-wah will succeed Mrs Wong.