C Y Leung names Christine Loh new environmental undersecretary
Civic Exchange founder's appointment as new undersecretary for environment raises hopes for action on air quality and waste issues
The arrival of an environmental heavyweight at the Environment Bureau could see Hong Kong's green policy moving in the right direction.
Christine Loh Kung-wai, a former lawmaker and head of think tank Civic Exchange, has been appointed undersecretary for the environment.
Loh, moving into government for the first time, was keen to start work with her new boss, Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing, as soon as the appointment was announced yesterday.
Loh's priority tasks will be air quality, waste management and nature conservation, and she believes positive changes can be made regardless of other battles the government is now fighting.
Loh said she decided to join the administration not only because she believed Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was serious about improving the environment, but also because it gave her the opportunity to influence the public policy she has spent 12 years researching.
"The one thing I have not done in my career is to be on the executive side, where I have a chance to set policy," she said. "This is something I'd like to do now. I think it is possible to do something within the C.Y. Leung administration, together with the minister."