bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Danny Mok

Gary Cheung

The employment contract of the controversial top media aide to the chief executive has been renewed, a month before it was due to expire.
Andrew Fung Wai-kwong, 54, who was appointed information coordinator under the Office of the Chief Executive in December 2013, confirmed with the South China Morning Post on Wednesday night that his contract had been extended for one year.

The chief executive’s spin doctor and the fourth highest-ranking official in Leung’s office was paid HK$3.4 million this financial year. He will also pocket an end-of-contract gratuity of HK$430,000, taking his total earnings to HK$3.83 million.
Edward Yau Tang-wah, the director of the office, earned HK$3.6 million in salary in this financial year.
Fung earned HK$2.74 million in 2014–15 and HK$2.96 million in 2015–16.
CY Leung’s information coordinator called a ‘sycophant’ by Hong Kong lawmakers as his pay rises 14 per cent
Fung is responsible for handling media relations for the city’s top official. But since taking up the post, the former Democratic Party member has made headlines on numerous occasions with controversial remarks and blunders.
And he has been subjected to criticism from the pan-democratic camp for his high salary and lacklustre performance.
Lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan told the media that Fung had shown a negative example to young people that such a brown-noser could win Leung’s favour.
COMMENT: Hong Kong government’s PR machine – no value for a lot of money
But another lawmaker, Ben Chan Han-pan, said making no changes to the chief executive’s team would be good for the operation of the government in the remaining days of Leung’s current term.
Fung did not respond to comments on the renewal of his contract, saying only that he would do his job well.
Before he worked for Leung, Fung was a public relations consultant and Southern District councillor.
In October 2013, Fung apologised for faulty ballot papers prepared by his firm, PR Concepts, that led to chaos at the Arts Development Council election.
He quit the Democratic Party in 2012 after he was found to have applied for undersecretary jobs.


Controversial top media aide to CY Leung has contract extended for another year

Andrew Fung Wai-kwong has made headlines on numerous occasions with controversial remarks and blunders. Photo: Felix Wong

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (Centre), attends a press conference during "Occupy Central" Movement at Chief Executive Office in Tamar. 28OCT14

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Information coordinator Andrew Fung Wai-kwong has drawn criticism from lawmakers for making numerous blunders despite his high salary


Controversial top media aide to CY Leung has contract extended for another year

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Information coordinator Andrew Fung Wai-kwong has drawn criticism from lawmakers for making numerous blunders despite his high salary

Information coordinator Andrew Fung Wai-kwong has drawn criticism from lawmakers for making numerous blunders despite his high salary