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Tony Cheung

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's governance could be hampered if ministers were "frightened and lost their peace of mind" following the replacement of two cabinet members last week, the leader of Hong Kong's biggest pro-establishment party warned yesterday.
Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, also said that central government officials' recent "acknowledgement" of Leung's work should not be interpreted to mean Beijing was supporting his re-election. It was still too early for Beijing to comment on the issue, she added.
Asked whether Leung had deepened political divisions in the city, Lee suggested both Leung's "tough character" and the pan-democrats' oppositional style were to blame.
"[Leung's remarks have] caused some conflicts … but it is unfair if we only take note of his relatively tough character, but ignore what he has done during his tenure," Lee said.
"We also have to criticise those people in the Legislative Council who called for Leung to step down even before he took office," she said in an apparent reference to some pan-democrats.
Last Tuesday, Leung abruptly announced the replacement of secretary for home affairs Tsang Tak-sing and secretary for the civil service Paul Tang Kwok-wai, sparking questions about whether he was trying to remove dissident voices, and whether the move would have a chilling effect on other ministers.

Picking up an earlier analogy of the reshuffle being like substitutions in a soccer match, Lee told Commercial Radio: "I hope the captain will listen to public opinion and reactions, boost morale and [encourage ministers to stay] active in their work, otherwise if the team is not united … or loses its peace of mind, it will be unfavourable for governance."
Political commentators believed Tsang and Tang had to go because Leung was unhappy with their performance, but Tsang's older brother, Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, hit out at "stupid" government officials for spreading "rumours" about the pair's work.
Lee declined to endorse Jasper Tsang's comments, but said the government could have done better with the reshuffle. "Misunderstandings can be minimised if there is more communication beforehand," she said.
Last week, the DAB made a four-day visit to Beijing and met the top official in charge of Hong Kong affairs, National People's Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang .
Lee reiterated that while Zhang "acknowledged Leung's work … it would be over-interpretation if one was saying it meant Beijing was supporting Leung to seek re-election".
Tsang Tak-sing was replaced by undersecretary for constitutional and mainland affairs Lau Kong-wah, who used to be a DAB vice-chairman.
 


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Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)

DAB leader Starry Lee urges CY Leung to pay attention to ministers’ morale after Hong Kong cabinet reshuffle

Starry Lee said it was too early for Beijing to comment on the possibility it would back Leung Chun-ying for another term as chief executive. Photo: Sam Tsang

Leung raised eyebrows by abruptly announcing that he would replace Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing, 66, and Secretary for the Civil Service Paul Tang Kwok-wai.

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Hong Kong

Politics

Leung's governance could suffer if ministers were 'frightened and lost peace of mind' after sudden reshuffle, says DAB chairwoman Lee


Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's governance could be hampered if ministers were "frightened and lost their peace of mind" following the replacement of two cabinet members last week, the leader of Hong Kong's biggest pro-establishment party warned yesterday.


Starry Lee Wai-king

DAB leader Starry Lee urges CY Leung to pay attention to ministers’ morale after Hong Kong cabinet reshuffle

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Leung's governance could suffer if ministers were 'frightened and lost peace of mind' after sudden reshuffle, says DAB chairwoman Lee

Leung's governance could suffer if ministers were 'frightened and lost peace of mind' after sudden reshuffle, says DAB chairwoman Lee