Patrick Nip Tak-kuen is now civil service chief after being replaced as secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs by former director of ­immigration Erick Tsang Kwok-wai.

Nip was at the centre of the controversy over statements on the remit of Beijing’s liaison office and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), which were accused of interfering in the city’s internal affairs when they called out opposition lawmakers for blocking the work of the legislature with filibustering.

Lam said his reassignment was unrelated, and the new tasks facing Nip, who joined the government as an administrative officer in 1986, did not include disciplining civil servants.

Since the anti-government unrest erupted last June, many civil servants have formed unions to protest against the administration, while others have been arrested at demonstrations.

Lam said the reshuffle was needed because Hong Kong had been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have started to map out the strategies for rebooting Hong Kong after the pandemic, especially in reinforcing Hong Kong as an international financial hub … in pushing forward the city’s innovation and technology business more proactively, as well as in continuing with the professional services in which we enjoy advantages,” she said.

“In the coming two years, I will be leading my governing team to do our utmost in strictly controlling the pandemic, protecting employment, supporting business, alleviating people’s hardship, as well as to make various plans to revive Hong Kong’s economy.”

She said her aim with Nip’s reassignment was “to find somebody who is familiar with the civil service and knows the core values and the integrity of the civil service”.

“There should be no worry about the so-called political mission given to Patrick, or his own aspirations,” she said.

Lam also praised Tsang for his “extensive experience in mainland affairs” and his management of the Immigration Department, as she defended her choice of the 56-year-old, who has worked solely in immigration since joining the government in 1987.

“Erick is perhaps the first head of a disciplined service who has taken up this position … But there’s a first time for everything,” she said.

The reshuffle was long in the works and required the agreement of those involved and the approval of the central government, she said, and thanked the four outgoing ministers for their service.

New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who was previously immigration director and security minister, said Tsang’s good relationship with Beijing would help him carry out his duties.

Cabinet reshuffle not linked to extradition bill protests but non-performance

“As mainland affairs chief, it is important to know mainland culture well,” she said, dismissing the suggestion Tsang had inadequate experience in handling constitutional affairs.

Lam was speaking at a press conference shortly after Beijing’s State Council announced on Wednesday morning that, based on her recommendations, it would appoint new secretaries for technology, financial services, home affairs, mainland affairs and the civil service in the city.

They are Alfred Sit Wing-hang, Christopher Hui Ching-yu and Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, respectively, along with Tsang and Nip.

The reshuffle is seen as an attempt to inject much-needed new blood into the local administration, in tandem with similar reshuffling recently at the liaison office and the HKMAO.

Nip said he would lead the civil service in supporting the chief executive’s governance and in providing quality services to the city. “I will safeguard the core values of Hong Kong civil servants, including … political neutrality,” he said.

Tsang said he was honoured to be appointed. “This is a brand new challenge for me, but with my experience in public administration, and my working relationship with mainland authorities, I believe that I am capable of this,” he said.

“There are a few elections coming up, I will make sure that they will be conducted fairly … I will also strengthen public education on the [Chinese] constitution and Basic Law.”

Beijing free to speak out about Hong Kong legislature

Tsui, previously undersecretary for labour and welfare, replaces 63-year-old Lau Kong-wah as minister for home affairs.

Tsui said he saw opportunities “to help rebuild Hong Kong after the pandemic”, noting recent cancellations of sports and cultural events.

“I want to enhance cooperation with various sectors,” he said. “I am confident that we can overcome these challenges.”

Sit, who previously led the Electrical and ­Mechanical Services Department and had almost retired, replaced Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, who turned 65 on Wednesday, as secretary for innovation and technology. He said he would lead Hong Kong in grooming new talent and attracting overseas experts to join the city’s talent pool.

Hui, ­who was expected to step down as executive director of the Financial Services Development Council, succeeded James Lau, who turns 70 this week, as ­secretary for financial services and the treasury. His job was to further strengthen the city’s financial industry amid the pandemic, he said.

IT sector lawmaker Charles Mok questioned whether Sit was familiar enough with the city’s tech sector to fully carry out his role.

But he was more concerned about the appointments of Tsang and Hui, saying their new positions were the key targets in the reshuffle.

“The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau is a key position taking charge of the government’s treasury. I think Beijing wants a trusted man in this role,” Mok said.

The two senior officials who were in the cross hairs of anti-government protesters over the now-withdrawn extradition bill last year, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and security minister John Lee Ka-chiu, remain in the cabinet.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun expressed disappointed over them staying in their roles, but pro-establishment legislator Starry Lee Wai-king said she believed Lam’s main consideration in the reshuffle was to ensure the cabinet could achieve the goals she set.

Additional reporting by Kimmy Chung