HONG KONG — Hong Kong unveiled a government shake-up on Wednesday that it said was aimed at reviving the financial hub’s beleaguered economy and had nothing to do with a recent controversy over Beijing’s role in the city’s affairs.
Director of Immigration, Erick Tsang, will replace Patrick Nip as head of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said, shortly after China’s state council said it had approved the appointments.
The move comes two days after Nip apologized for conflicting statements over the role of two Beijing institutions overseeing the global financial center affairs.
Nip has been reassigned as the head of the city’s civil service, replacing Joshua Law.
“Hong Kong is in a very difficult position now, apart from the pandemic, we are going through a major economic recession with high unemployment and so we really need to start planning for Hong Kong’s economic recovery,” Lam said at a briefing.
The government also announced new secretaries for technology, financial services and home affairs.
Some lawmakers said the moves reflected Beijing’s tightening grip over the city.
