Former undersecretary for security Sonny Au Chi-kwong has been appointed secretary-general to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, the State Council announced yesterday.

An official statement said the council, after receiving Au's nomination from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, approved his appointment and Eric Chan Kwok-ki's removal from the post.

Au was first tipped as the favorite to succeed Chan in June after Chan was appointed chief secretary for administration in Lee's cabinet.

In commenting on the appointment, Lee said Au has been undersecretary for security for the last five years and is well versed in affairs pertaining to national security.

"Au is perfectly capable of taking up the post of secretary-general and leading the secretariat in supporting the committee to fulfill its crucial responsibility of safeguarding national security," Lee said.

Established in July 2020, the committee was formed according to the stipulations of the national security law, which outlined the creation of a panel that would be led by the city's chief executive and an appointed secretary-general.

In the meantime, Chan will still serve as a committee member in the capacity of chief secretary.

Au, who is in his sixties, served as undersecretary for security between 2017 and June.

He began his career by joining the police force at the age of 18 as a constable in 1980 and was later appointed inspector in 1986.

Two decades later, he was promoted to chief superintendent in 2007 and eight years later, senior assistant commissioner.

He rotated through various departments during his time in the force, including as director of training and as director of crime and security.

Au had received negative media attention in March last year when he was among three senior officials involved in the so-called "hot-pot scandal."

At the time, the three were each fined HK$5,000 for breaching the four-person gathering ban.

The government's subsequent leniency toward the trio for attending the dinner despite it being in violation of Covid-19 social-distancing measures - with the three only being reprimanded for a "lack of sensitivity" - sparked widespread outrage among Hongkongers.

Sonny Au

Ex-security deputy to helm national-security panel