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C.Y.'s core team 'a trade-off'

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Politics is the art of compromise. During the past few weeks, few have understood this infallible law better than Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong's future leader, who has been busy forming his core team. One major consideration he has had to make is how many people from Donald Tsang Yam-keun's administration to keep.

The South China Morning Post has been told by one source that Leung's two top future aides - the chief secretary and financial secretary - 'have been confirmed, if no surprises happen'. The result is 'a compromise involving a number of different considerations', according to the source.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor - currently secretary of development, and the most popular among all senior officials - will be the next chief secretary, according to the source. Current finance chief John Tsang Chun-wah will remain at his post.

Making Lam the second female chief secretary - after Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who held the post during Chris Patten's tenure as governor - was expected by many. Lam has a good reputation with the public for decisiveness and effectiveness, and has long been highly appreciated by Leung.

But keeping John Tsang - who not only has been dubbed a 'true brother' of Donald Tsang, but is also well known for his strong belief in Milton Friedman's theory of an absolutely free economy - is not seen as a natural fit by many.

Before accepting his appointment from Premier Wen Jiabao this month, Leung said he would look for people who 'are capable and share my vision'. Lam surely meets those qualifications.

But for John Tsang, other factors influenced Leung. One is Beijing's wish for a smooth transition; another is the fear of a financial crisis due to uncertainties in the US and Europe. Whether Tsang agrees with Leung's more interventionist approach towards the economy may be secondary to the chief-executive-elect.

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