With his five-year term entering its last 18 months, a newspaper report saying Chief Executive John Lee plans to axe two ministers in charge of constitutional and mainland affairs and housing respectively has caused signs of a stir – and confusion – in the city’s ruling echelon and the political circle.

Political gossip became a front-page story

On last Thursday, Chinese-language Ming Pao published a front-page report saying they learned from more than one source that at least two policy secretaries have to go in an imminent cabinet reshuffle, which, if true, will be the second of its kind since Lee took office in 2022.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin were said to be on the way out. No names were named as their successors in the report. Nor were there details of why Lee is contemplating another reshuffle.

That what would have been a piece of cake on the newspaper’s political gossip column became a front-page story seems to show there’s some truth in it, at least to the newspaper. The government’s reaction to it, or the lack of it, has given credence to the report.

In a one line response to Ming Pao, the government said they do not respond to speculative reports. Tsang said it was “not convenient to talk.” Winnie Ho said her mind was “full of work,” adding “good things will happen” just by doing her job well every day. Time will tell.

Hours after the story was published, Tsang did not attend a debate in the Legislative Council on how to align Hong Kong with the nation’s 15th five-year plan, which falls within his portfolio. His deputy repeated the government’s position, refusing to answer speculative questions.

At a “morning prayer” meeting with his cabinet on Friday, Lee did not comment on the reshuffle report. He reiterated that an independent committee review on the Tai Po blaze is still underway, saying it would be unfair to name any officials who should be held responsible for it before the committee draws a conclusion. Officiating a dinner function on Friday, Lee did not talk to the press.

Pro-Beijing media, which have been a loyal supporter of the government, active defender of its policies and iron-fist fighter against what they deem as rumours and misinformation on media outlets, neither carried a story about the reported reshuffle nor a denial or rebuttal.

Why Lee axes his generals

The eerie air of silence and the veil of mystery surrounding the Lee cabinet at a time when its term enters the last 18 months are intriguing.

If true, for what the marshal is moving to axe his generals?

Elaborating his initiative to broaden the political accountability system to heads of departments in the 2025 policy address in October, Lee described himself as the “marshal” whose duty is to lead the “generals,” referring to the policy secretaries and department heads, in a battle. The Heads of Department Accountability System, he said, is aimed to ensure the “generals” manage well their “soldiers”, i.e. the civil servants.

Details of the new accountability system are expected to be submitted to the Legco in the first half of this year. How and whether it works to enhance governance remain to be seen. That Lee has flown the banner of accountability has lifted public expectations to a new height.

The Tai Po blaze that caused 168 people dead has fuelled expectations that high-ranking government officials should be held responsible for the mistakes and negligence on their part, not just those who are found to have breached the laws.

Without categorically denying a reshuffle while insisting no officials will be punished before the fire probe report is finished, Lee may try to send a message that any reshuffle before that has nothing to do with the deadly fire.

Given Erick Tsang’s portfolio has nothing to do with the blaze, there may be some truth in Lee’s remarks if Tsang is given the boot.

But there is no doubt the Tai Po blaze, which has laid bare a host of possible violations of laws and regulations, loopholes and laxity in supervision and deficiencies in the relevant systems, has posed enormous pressure for Lee to walk the talk of accountability. In that sense, Tsang may become a victim of the fire of accountability.

It may not be practically doable for any new ministers to play magic to right the wrongs and remedy the deficiencies in the remaining months of the current term.

By demonstrating official accountability is not empty talk, Lee may still be able to show his determination to seize the time to reduce the potential fire hazards when it comes to governance to their minimum before he stands down.

▌ [At Large] About the Author

Chris Yeung is a veteran journalist, a founder and chief writer of the now-disbanded CitizenNews; he now runs a daily news commentary channel on Youtube. He had formerly worked with the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Economic Journal.