Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1727671/cy-leung-appoints-tech-adviser-after-it-bureau-blocked-legco Hong Kong
CY Leung appoints technology adviser after IT bureau blocked by Legco filibuster
Former PolyU president Nicholas Yang will be non-official member as Leung revives IT bid
Nicholas Yang and CY Leung speak to the press at Central Government Offices in Tamar. Yang is the former executive vice-president of the Polytechnic University. Photo: David Wong
The former Polytechnic University vice-president was yesterday parachuted into the Executive Council as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying paved the way to renew his bid to establish a tech bureau following its defeat last month.
Tipped as Leung's preferred choice of secretary for the bureau, former university administrator Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung has become the chief executive's adviser on innovation and technology and an Exco non-official member.
Taiwan-born Yang, 59, will also head a new advisory body that will replace the current steering committee on innovation and technology presided over by Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah. Leung did not say whether Tsang would play any role in the new body.
Yang's three-in-one appointment angered pan-democrats, whose filibuster successfully killed the government's plan for the bureau in the Legislative Council. They criticised Leung for creating "a political sanctuary" for a potential minister without lawmakers' support.
Announcing the appointment, Leung said Yang had "extensive experience, personal networks and an international perspective".
In about two weeks, the government will submit again the proposals for the creation of the posts and funding for the innovation and technology bureau, a key agenda in Leung's 2012 election platform. "We must catch up," Leung said. "We cannot afford to fall behind."
He again blamed pan-democrats, who opposed the bill as part of a non-cooperation campaign following Beijing's restrictive framework on constitutional reform, for ruining his plan.
Yang, who will serve as Leung's pro bono adviser, said he would gauge views from society and make recommendations to the chief executive.
The government "needs new thinking and faster strategies" because IT development takes "months, not years" to innovate, Yang said.
Yang quit his academic position last month after a five-year stint. Before that, he was Cyberport's chief executive from 2003 to 2010.
Despite Yang's accession, Leung said IT development would remain the duty of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, for now.