Hong Kong chief executive election 2022: why is Beijing slow to appoint a chief secretary this time?
- The delay in appointing an acting chief secretary this time round has left even top officials perplexed
- The temporary absence of a No 2 official in Hong Kong would not leave the government hamstrung, some analysts say
Beijing has yet to appoint Hong Kong’s new No 2 official as it wants to ensure a smooth transition of governments and also not place the outgoing leader in an awkward situation of having her choice rejected, analysts have said.
Observers also said even though the government had yet to have an acting chief secretary, it would not be hamstrung, as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor explained the work of the No 2 official would be taken up by her and other principal officials.
“The chief secretary’s role is mainly to act as a coordinator in the cabinet … The administration would not bump into big problems under the temporary vacancy of the post,” said Ronny Tong Ka-wah, an adviser to the city leader on her de facto cabinet, the Executive Council.
After John Lee Ka-chiu, a career police officer, tendered his resignation as Chief Secretary on Wednesday, Lam said that she had followed Article 48(5) of the Basic Law in recommending Lee’s exit, as well as nominating a successor for the central government to consider.
However, when Xinhua reported on Friday that his resignation had been approved, it stopped short of naming a new chief secretary, leaving political watchers perplexed as to what was going on behind the scenes.
A source close to the government said even many top officials in the administration had no idea why there was no appointment of a new chief secretary.
“One legitimate explanation is that Beijing may have a better option from what Lam has suggested,” the source said. “It also has to depend on whether Beijing thinks there is a need to appoint someone as the remaining time is short.”