Beijing loyalist joins HK cabinet
By Vaudine England
BBC News, Hong Kong
Mr Tsang swore in the new cabinet on Saturday
A leading pro-Beijing figure, Tsang Tak-sing, has been appointed to the Hong Kong government in a new cabinet announced on Saturday.
The new government will be sworn in on 1 July, when Hong Kong will mark 10 years since its handover from British to Chinese rule.
The new cabinet also promotes two men seen as competing to succeed its Chief Executive, Donald Tsang.
It must tackle how to bring promised universal suffrage to Hong Kong.
Pro-China figure
It also has to clean up its environment and promote its standing as a financial centre.
The appointment of Tsang Tak-sing to the important job of home affairs secretary confirms a shift toward a more pro-Beijing establishment in Hong Kong.
He is a leading pro-China figure, who first made headlines as a leftist student activist in 1967.
He was jailed then for two years by the British government for distributing communist propaganda, and taking part in riots which had overflowed into Hong Kong from the Cultural Revolution in China.
He was later editor of a newspaper long seen as China＇s mouthpiece in the territory, but he has since edged into the administration.
His appointment suggests China＇s growing influence over Hong Kong, as it marks 10 years since it was handed from British to Chinese rule.
At the same time, Donald Tsang has promoted a close personal ally, John Tsang, to the job of finance secretary.
He replaces Henry Tang, who becomes chief secretary.
Hong Kong＇s cabinet is drawn up in consultation with Beijing.
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