Incumbent’s comments raise questions about whether the chief executive-elect’s team was an ideal line-up
Uncertainties were already looming over the unity of incoming leader ’s cabinet on Wednesday, as her justice chief did not commit on finishing a second five-year term, while her financial secretary dodged questions on whether he was her first choice. The remarks by Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung and Financial Secretary, two of Lam’s top three ministers, raised questions about whether the team was the chief executive-elect’s ideal line-up. Since Lam on March 26, it has been widely reported that she wanted former Bar Association chairwoman Winnie Tam Wan-chi for justice secretary and Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, Asia chairman of a United States-based insurance firm, for financial chief. After Yuen was tipped to be reappointed, there were then reports suggesting he would leave next year after sorting out law enforcement issues dogging the city’s cross-border railway project. Yuen would not confirm this on Wednesday. He would only say: “Time is not the most crucial consideration. From my perspective, what is important is that as long as I remain the secretary for justice, I will do my best to discharge my duties.” He said his top priority was to “maintain the rule of law”. A year ago, Yuen was admitted to hospital with intestinal discomfort and was on leave for a few days.
