Erick Tsang resigns due to health concerns: John Lee

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai has previously informed him of his desire to resign due to health reasons.

This came after China's State Council removed Tsang from his post this morning.

After detailed discussions, Lee made the decision to the central government in accordance with the Basic Law.

Tsang said that his health deteriorated due to the intense work, with his prostate cancer index continuously rising. He said this has driven him to resign from the post.

"Mr Tsang has served the government for nearly 40 years," Lee said in the press conference. "He supervised the Registration and Electoral Office in working with the Electoral Affairs Commission to successfully organise a number of important elections in the HKSAR. I am thankful for Mr Tsang's contributions over the years and wish him the best of health and luck in future endeavours."

Lee noted that the application by Tsang to resign from his job because of personal health reasons is "fully appreciated."

"Principal Officials' jobs are very demanding. Not just the workload is heavy, but the pressure is also heavy. I can understand why Erick, under the present health condition, would like to take a rest so as to take care of his health problems," Lee added.

"That is why I said that had Erick's health condition been manageable, I really would have liked him to continue," the city leader stated.

In response to the question of whether there will be other officials being removed, Lee emphasized that the speculations are inaccurate. "There will be no further change of Principal Officials, particularly now that we have so many things to do, and they are all doing these as I require them to, sharing my governance philosophy."

The city leader said he will identify a suitable candidate for the post of Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs. During the period, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Clement Woo Kin-man will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

Tsang had been serving in the post since 2020. He served as the director of Immigration before taking up the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs post.