Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip appointed convenor of John Lee’s de facto cabinet

Ip, 71, is the first woman convenor of Executive Council, and first with political affiliation, since Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule.

Veteran politician and former security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has been appointed convenor of incoming Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s de facto cabinet, with analysts expecting her to distinguish herself from her predecessor by actively defending the authorities to foreign media.

The seven new non-official members appointed to the Executive Council on Wednesday included pro-establishment lawmaker Chan Kin-por, who said he would resign as chairman of a Legislative Council committee scrutinising the government’s funding applications to “strike a proper balance” between his roles in the executive branch and legislature.

A former health minister, a campaign aide of Lee, a seasoned banker, an insurance veteran and two more lawmakers were also invited to be Lee’s advisers.
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