Hong Kong’s next chief executive ‘should hire from within’ for cabinet posts
Carrie Lam’s campaign boss says promoting undersecretaries to cabinet would ‘give incentives for more people to join’ government
Whoever wins the chief executive election later this month should promote government undersecretaries to his or her cabinet, rather than bringing in too many outsiders, front runner Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s campaign chief said on Monday.
In an interview with the Post, Bernard Chan, also an executive councillor, admitted that forming the cabinet would be the main challenge for Lam if she is elected to the top job.
“[The new cabinet] should not be parachuted with too many outsiders,” Chan said.
“Firstly, there are not many people willing to give up their business or career to join in.
“On the other hand, there would be risks if there are too many newcomers.”
Lam has pledged in her manifesto to bring in a new style of governance by “recruiting talents on merit”.
Chan said it takes time for outsiders, no matter how capable, to get used to the government system and work with civil servants.