December
2024
December 2024 saw the firing and replacement of two senior government officials by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung has been replaced by Mable Chan Mei-bo, and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has been replaced by Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, the government’s former director of housing. Lee framed the reshuffle as a strategic move to improve governance and ensure Hong Kong delivers better economic and social benefits, also emphasizing that the changes aimed to help Hong Kong compete globally as a tourist destination.
In a press conference, Lee mentioned that he has “been observing for some time, and also taken stock of what I plan to do in the future,” noting that he wanted “a team and secretaries that will be able to deliver what [he] ha[s] in mind.” Lee also emphasized the HKSAR government’s goal of making up for “lost time during Covid” and characterized the 2019 pro-democracy protests against the H.K.S.A.R. government as “lost time because of . . . riots [and] violence.”
Summary
This move reflects the H.K.S.A.R. government's flagging efforts to address growing criticism of their handling of the city’s post-pandemic recovery, particularly in the tourism sector , as well as H.K.S.A.R. authorities’ ongoing attempts to blame pro-democracy elements for the city’s problems.
More broadly, the reshuffle reflects the Hong Kong government's attempt to project accountability and align with Beijing’s priorities for stability and global competitiveness, particularly in the tourism and economy sectors. However, by focusing on administrative turnover rather than policy reform, the government avoids tackling the root causes of discontent, such as a lack of democratic representation, social inequality, and alienation of the younger generation. The reshuffle may also follow Beijing’s broader strategy of emphasizing economic recovery and international competitiveness while suppressing dissent, suggesting that the changes are more about optics than substantive reform. This approach allows the government to claim progress without addressing the fundamental issues undermining its domestic and international legitimacy.
Analysis
