Decision not to reappoint opposition legislator Dennis Kwok to Hong Kong’s competition watchdog was based on merit, city leader Carrie Lam says
- Chief executive says there is no cap or minimum on appointment tenures, citing examples of members previously not reappointed after two years
- But Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok says the government should not ‘politicise’ appointments to public bodies
Hong Kong’s leader said her decision not to reappoint an opposition legislator to the city’s competition watchdog was based on merit, while the lawmaker in question warned against the politicisation of public bodies.
Reappointed member Samuel Chan Ka-yan, a barrister, will become the commission’s new chairman. He replaces Anna Wu Hung-yuk, who will leave the commission alongside Anthony William Seeto Yiu-wai, Professor Suen Wing-chuen and Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok.
The four newly appointed members include pro-establishment lawmaker Jimmy Ng Wing-ka.
Wu, Seeto, and Suen have been members of the commission for at least six years, while Kwok was appointed in 2018 – making him the only departing member to serve just one two-year term.
The decision has raised eyebrows amid an ongoing controversy over the city’s autonomy.
