Four top officials at the Central Policy Unit will not stay on after July 1 as the new administration seeks to review the role and operations of the controversial government think tank.
“Shiu and Kao will not stay after July 1,” a government source told the Post. “But the ongoing studies performed by the staff will go on.”
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Sophia Kao vetted appointments at other advisory bodies. Photo: David Wong
Pan-democrats had been critical of the conservative stance of Shiu, who once said Beijing’s influence on the city’s lawmakers was “a reality” that Hongkongers should accept.
Leung also came under fire for appointing Kao – a staunch supporter – to advise the administration on appointments to other advisory bodies, which was said to have enabled cronyism.
Wong Chack-kie is also leaving the Central Policy Unit. Photo: May Tse
The two other full-time advisers leaving their posts are Lee Tak-keung and Wong Chack-kie.
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Leader-in-waiting Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has pledged to revamp the unit – which she called an opaque “black box”. She wants it to be “policy and project coordination unit” that fosters public participation in policymaking and to be responsible for research and coordination.
