Chief Executive Carrie Lam is about to leave office. Recently, she has been interviewed many times to express her feelings, but she has not explained her plans after leaving office.
After the previous chief executives leave office, the government will provide the "former chief executive's office" to support administrative work. However, it is understood that since the former chief executive office is currently located in Central, the seats have been "full" after the placement of the three former chief executives. .
The Administration Department replied that the government is preparing to set up the "Former Chief Executive's Office" after Carrie Lam's resignation at Pacific Place, Admiralty.
The predecessor held interviews and social activities for the former chief executive
The previous office was located at 28 Kennedy Road, Mid-Levels, Central. It was built around 1905 and was formerly the temporary school building of Queen's College and the Government Chinese Secondary School.
The Office also served as the office of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group from 1993 to 1999, which was used to hold meetings.
The Government proposed to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in November 2005 to provide office and administrative support to the former Chief Executive, with the aim of supporting the former Chief Executive in promotional and courtesy work, including meeting with visiting dignitaries and delegations, receiving local and Overseas media visits, participation in public and social events and speeches.
The office was becoming the former Chief Executive's Office in April 2007 and is now a Grade 1 historic building.
The two former chief executives, Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, both participated in social activities and received interviews from local or overseas media in their previous offices.
Tsang, on the other hand, is more low-key and has made fewer public appearances after leaving office.
28 Kennedy Road is only enough for three former chief executives
According to the content of the Administration Wing's reply to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in March 2020, the support services of the former Chief Executive's Office were provided by 3 senior personal assistants, 3 assistant clerical officers, 3 VIP car drivers and 1 clerical assistant.
Among them, the clerical assistant provides services for 3 people at the same time.
In 2020/21, the estimated expenditure of the government to support the three former chief executives is about $11.41 million.
However, after Lam Cheng leaves office, he may not be able to be stationed at 28 Kennedy Road.
According to the former's website, the office "is available for up to three former chief executives to carry out promotional and ceremonial work, as well as activities related to their former official status."
In other words, Tung Chee-hwa, Tsang Yam-kuen and Leung Chun-ying are currently using the former office, which has exhausted the capacity of the place. Since the former office itself is a historical building, it is theoretically unlikely that it will be rebuilt and expanded.
Leung Chun-ying worked in his predecessor's office and was interviewed by "Hong Kong 01".
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Administration Department proposes to lease Pacific Place: no other suitable government premises
The Administration's reply to "Hong Kong 01" pointed out that since No. 28 Kennedy Road has been used by the three former chief executives, the government has to find other suitable locations for the establishment of the fourth former chief executive's office.
Considering that there are no other suitable government premises at present, and the operational needs of the former Chief Executive's office, including location, transportation, convenience for meeting people from all walks of life and security, etc., preparations are being made to set up the fourth former Chief Executive's Office at Pacific Place, Admiralty.
Of course, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stated earlier that she would not set up a think tank after she left office, so as not to create the impression of "intervention", and she also said that she "doesn't seek political affairs if she is not in her position."
The words have come to this point, and it is unknown whether she will follow Tsang Yam-kuen's example in the future, and she will not comment on current affairs.
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