China's State Council approves composition of new Hong Kong government

Tourists wearing medical masks on the waterfront in Hong Kong. File photoBEIJING, Jun 19 The State Council of the People's Republic of China on Sunday approved the composition of the new government of Hong Kong, proposed by the head of the special administrative region, John Lee, elected in May, according to a message on the agency's website. In total, John Lee's cabinet included 26 human. The post of chief secretary and the second most important position in the local administration was taken by the former first secretary general of the national security committee, Chen Guoji (Eric Chan). Eric Chan has worked in various positions in the Hong Kong Immigration Service since 1982, and headed the department from 2011 to 2016. In 2017, he was appointed to the post of head of the Hong Kong Chief Executive's Office. administration of Hong Kong, he will take up his duties on July 1, the day of the 25th anniversary of the official transfer of Hong Kong under the jurisdiction of China. Hong Kong's former security secretary, John Lee, was elected as the new chief of staff in an unopposed election on May 8. Hong Kong returned to China from Britain in 1997 and has enjoyed broad autonomy ever since. The central government of China adheres to the principle of «one country, two systems» in the administration of the region. According to the joint declaration of Great Britain and China, Hong Kong will maintain broad autonomy until 2047. How the former British colony will be governed after this period is still unknown.