A former police officer who led daily press conferences during the 2019 protests and riots has been appointed to a senior post heading the Hong Kong government’s media relations department.
authorities DESIGNATED on Monday that John Tse would begin the role of head of the Information Services Department (ISD) on Tuesday.
That was before appointed in June 2024 as information coordinator in the Office of the Chief Executive, where he formulates public relations and media strategies.
Prior to that, he was an office communications secretary whose responsibilities included managing Chief Executive John Lee’s social media and principal assistant secretary in the Security Bureau.
Tse is best known as the former head of the police force’s public relations branch.
He led daily press conferences during anti-extradition protests in 2019, when police would announce arrest figures and deployments.
In 2020, Tse was CLUE “chief executive’s commendation for government/public service” for his “outstanding contribution in relation to the handling of social incidents”.
‘The most suitable candidate’
Tse’s appointment as director of the Department of Information Services comes after the government open recruitment began for the position, as well as for the head of the Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene.
The recruitment broke with the authorities’ long tradition of appointing administrative officials to key roles. Requirements for the jobs included “political acumen.”
According to the government’s statement on Monday, Tse was identified as the “most suitable candidate” after a selection process.
“Mr. Tse has extensive experience in public administration, is highly skilled in media and public relations, and has exceptional leadership and management skills,” Civil Service Secretary Ingrid Yeung said in a statement.
Tse was rumored to be in office even before the government announced the recruitment.
According to according to political insiders in October, Tse would replace then-ISD chief Apollonia Liu, who at the time was rumored to be moving into the role of permanent secretary at the Security Bureau. Liu took up the new post in February.
