HK Standard
Staff Reporter
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
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Green architect Wong Kam-sing will become the next secretary for the environment, replacing Edward Yau Tang-wah.
A source said Chief Executive-elect Leung Chun-ying has always wanted a professional to take over as environment chief and believes Wong is an ideal choice.
His first task will be to push forward waste management policy.
As convener of an environmental department support group, Wong has a key role in the government sustainable development project.
He is the director and head of the design team at Ronald Lu & Partners (Hong Kong), an architectural firm.
Wong holds different positions in other groups, including chairman of the Professional Green Building Council and vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
Chu Hon-keung, environmental affairs manager of Friends of the Earth, said Wong may have little experience working with the government, but a person’s conservation ideology is more important.
His prime duty in his new post will be to promote energy saving in buildings across Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, it is understood that New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee will join the Executive Council following a reorganization of the consultation body.
Ip is expected to join Exco as a non- official member.
The number of official members will be increased from 16 to 20.
It is also believed that the chairmen of public organizations and representatives from political parties will be invited to join Exco.
At present, only those from the commercial sector and political parties are invited.
Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat did not say if he plans to stay on in Exco when Leung takes office on July 1.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen and the head of Leung’s office, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, both said there is no need for a full-scale public consultation on the government reorganization proposal.
Tam said on a Commercial Radio program that restructuring is different from making changes to government policies and so a public consultation is not required.
“There are likewise no changes to the government’s accountability system,” Tam added.
He said the law requires the chief executive election to be held 100 days before the current government term finishes, but a public consultation will take three months.
It is “not reasonable” to conduct one, he said.
Law said on the same program that Leung has already consulted civil servants and the public may take part in a Legco public hearing to be held soon.