China’s State Council appoints Janice Tse as new Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau chief

2026-03-30 - 06:22

China’s State Council has appointed retired Hong Kong civil servant Janice Tse as the new secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs. Her predecessor, Erick Tsang, stepped down in January over health concerns, with acting secretary Clement Woo fulfilling the role in the meantime. The new Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse takes the oath of office, witnessed by the Chief Executive John Lee on Monday, March 30, 2026. Photo: GovHK. Chief Executive John Lee announced at a press briefing on Monday that his nominee would be bringing 37 years of experience to the role and would oversee Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. “She possesses strong leadership abilities, extensive administrative and management experience, and is able to establish effective communication and co-operative relationships at all levels of government,” Lee said, according to a press release. “This five-year plan is of great significance to Hong Kong’s future development. In her various roles within the Government, Miss Tse was frequently responsible for compiling and scrutinising important reports,” he added. The 61-year-old Tse came out of retirement to head the bureau. According to a Monday press release, she joined the government in 1987, joining the Executive Officer and Labour Officer Grades before joining the Administrative Service in June 1988. She rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2023 and has worked in a range of departments and bureaus. She was director of home affairs from April 2016 to January 2022 before serving as a permanent secretary for the environment from January 2022 until her retirement in January 2025. Tse won a Gold Bauhinia Star in 2025 for her “loyal and distinguished” service to the government. Chief Executive John Lee (left) with Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, as he announced his resignation at a press conference on January 27, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. In January, Tsang said his heavy workload had taken a toll on his health and that his Prostate-Specific Antigen index had been above 11 for some time. This suggests a substantially higher risk of prostate cancer. “During this time, I’ve done different checks including ultrasound, MRI and invasive biopsy,” he said in Chinese at the time. “But the situation has not improved... the best way to handle things right now is to put down my work, de-stress, and recuperate.”