Hong Kong leader unexpectedly sacks tourism, transport ministers
Add BT as a preferred source
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
HONG Kong’s leader John Lee sacked his ministers for tourism and transport.
Rosanna Law will replace Kevin Yeung as secretary for culture, sports and tourism, while Mable Chan will replace Lam Sai-hung as the city’s secretary for transport and logistics, Lee said at a press conference on Thursday (Dec 5).
“I want to create the biggest societal and economic benefits for Hong Kong,” Lee said. “I want to have secretaries that will be able to deliver what I have in mind.”
The dismissal of two ministers in key postings comes as Hong Kong seeks to revive tourism in the city in the wake of protests, pandemic border closures and the imposition of national security laws. Retail sales have fallen every month since February in part due to weak spending by Chinese visitors.
Yeung’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau was singled out by Lee in his October policy address, when he criticised its failure to release a blueprint for the industries’ development, the South China Morning Post reported.
In February, a much-hyped exhibition match featuring footballing legend Lionel Messi turned into a public relations disaster for Hong Kong when the Argentinian footballer failed to play. The incident cast a pall on government efforts to showcase the city’s strengths and burnish its international image through large-scale events.
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
Next year the city will open a 50,000-seat stadium, which was originally intended to be completed in 2023. The venue will initially host the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, as well as Coldplay. The stadium is part of a new sports park at Kai Tak that’s cost HK$30 billion (S$5.2 billion) to build, local media have reported.
Lee, a former policeman, assumed office in 2022, replacing Carrie Lam. No Hong Kong leader has completed two full terms since the UK handed the city over to China in 1997.
“We have lost time” due to Covid and the 2019 protests, and I want to “recover that time”, Lee said. “I am very confident the current team will unite and work with me.” BLOOMBERG
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
TRENDING NOW
From 1MDB to ‘corporate mafia’: Is Malaysia facing a new governance test?
Middle East-linked energy supply shocks put Asean Power Grid back in focus
Beijing’s calculated silence on the Iran war
DPM Gan warns of 3 structural shifts to the global system that will bring greater challenges – and opportunities
