Hong Kong legislature to launch search for new secretary general to replace veteran Kenneth Chen who retires in 2024
- Kenneth Chen will retire next year after more than a decade as secretary general of Legco secretariat
- Legco president Andrew Leung praises Chen for his efforts over the years, especially in overcoming ‘numerous challenges’ in previous term
A recruitment exercise will be launched to find a new head for the secretariat of Hong Kong’s legislature to replace incumbent Kenneth Chen Wei-on who retires next year.
“Chen has led his team to overcome numerous challenges,” Leung said. “He has also promoted the modernisation of the legislature during his term and adopted various digital services to boost its effectiveness and transparency.”
Leung said Chen, 58, would retire in August next year, adding the legislature would hire a consultancy firm to lead the recruitment exercise to look both internally and externally for a new secretary general. The Legco Commission would consider the shortlisted candidates and make its choice, he added.
Hong Kong bill to revamp district councils backed, cuts directly elected seats
Leung stressed Chen’s successor had to be familiar with the work of both the executive and legislative branches, excel in leadership and have rich experience in public administration.
Chen said it had been an honour to serve the legislature.
“We have encountered quite a lot of unprecedented challenges over the past 11 years. I am grateful the whole secretariat could overcome them one after another in unity,” he said.
Hong Kong district council reforms spark soul-searching on future of direct elections
In the coming year, he would continue to push the legislature to make greater use of technology and oversee the Legco complex’s expansion, he said.
Chen, a former deputy education minister, succeeded Pauline Ng Man-wah as secretary general in 2012, despite having no experience in the secretariat before.
The secretariat provides administrative support and services to Legco.
In 2019, Chen faced calls to resign from the opposition camp, which accused him of exceeding his powers to help the pro-Beijing bloc unseat a pan-democratic lawmaker from presiding over the panel vetting a controversial extradition bill, which triggered the months-long protests. Chen said at the time his decision was based on the Legco rule book and its conventions
