Pro-Beijing legislators threw their support behind a government reshuffle Friday, which saw two officials with backgrounds in law enforcement promoted to top positions in the city’s administration.
“If it’s a police state, why not?” Lawmaker Alice Mak said, according to RTHK. “I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state. When we say a police state, I will view the other side, that is the emphasis on security.”
The Federation of Trade Unions legislator made the comment after Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the administrative shake-up.
Secretary for Security John Lee, who last week called for journalists to distance themselves from Apple Daily as their reporting is “not normal journalistic work,” will replace Matthew Cheung as Chief Secretary, making him Hong Kong’s number two official.
Cheung will go into retirement. In an exit statement, the veteran civil servant expressed his gratitude to Beijing and former Chief Executives, and said he hopes Hong Kong can maintain its stability and prosperity.
Police Commissioner Chris Tang will take up the position of Secretary for Security. He was appointed as the force’s chief in Nov. 2019 during the height of the anti-government protests, and will be replaced by Deputy Police Commissioner Raymond Siu.
Addressing reporters in a press conference, Lam said: “For people with commitment, integrity, leadership and a spirit to serve the nation and Hong Kong… I have no doubt whatsoever that the three colleagues that are joining the team in their new positions will serve Hong Kong in that spirit that I have just mentioned.”
Both Lee and Tang, among other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials, were sanctioned by the United States after Beijing forced a sweeping national security law through the city’s legislature.
