After saying for months she wanted to assemble a diverse team, only former Democratic Party member Dr Law Chi-kwong, a social policy academic, joined her team, with the rest either inherited from the cabinet of predecessor Leung Chun-ying or inducted from the civil service.

Watch: Carrie Lam presents her cabinet

Lam also failed to realise her earlier ambition to inject new blood into the financial affairs porfolio. Incumbent Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po – handpicked by Leung – is in her core team.

Observers were quick to pounce on Lam’s “ideal team” label and question whether she had been sincere in wanting to bring in fresh ideas.

Reports had swirled earlier that several well-known figures had turned down her invitation to be in the “heat of the kitchen”, while a number of other candidates were allegedly rejected by Beijing.

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu doubted Lam’s ability to demonstrate a “new style of governance” with a cabinet made up mostly of incumbents.

Lam’s administration is not expected to enjoy a honeymoon period, as it has to race against time to handle a number of thorny issues, including the establishment of a joint immigration facility for the cross-border railway.

The incoming government is also under mounting pressure from Beijing to enact a national security law and revive national education in schools in the wake of rising separatist sentiment.

The ‘unpopular’ labour chief

Academic Law Chi-kwong – the only pan-democrat joining the ranks – is the one fresh face in a sea of familiar ones on Lam’s cabinet. But even he came under attack on Day 1, with a former ally describing the incoming labour and welfare minister as “highly unpopular” in the field.

Law has promised to improve relations between the new administration and the pan-democrats, but this may be a tall order as he works to meet other challenges, such as the city’s ageing population and projected shrinking workforce.

The ‘leftover’ justice minister

A giant question mark hangs over the role of Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, who remained tight-lipped on Wednesday about reports suggesting he would quit before his five-year term ended.

Since Lam won the chief executive election, it has been widely reported that she wanted former Bar Association chairwoman Winnie Tam Wan-chi for justice secretary, fueling speculation that Yuen would leave next year after sorting out law enforcement issues dogging the city’s cross-border railway project.

The ‘novice’ transport secretary

Even before his first day on the job, incoming transport and housing chief Frank Chan Fan has had to face a barrage of questions on his ability to lead the bureau given his lack of policy experience.

The incumbent director of electrical and mechanical services asked the public for time to prove his capabilities “with actions, not words”, but stopped short of answering questions about whether he knew when the controversial high-speed rail link to Guangzhou would be completed, and the waiting time for public housing.

The surprise education pick

The rumoured choice of educator Christine Choi Yuk-lin as the city’s next undersecretary for education has been described as “a slap in the face of voters” after she was soundly defeated in the last Legislative Elections.

As of 9pm on Wednesday more than 1,500 people had signed an online petition against her appointment to the No 2 post in education.