Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu appoints Kelvin Kong Hok-lai as the head of the police force’s National Security Department, succeeding Andrew Kan Kai-yan. Kong takes the oath and assumes the role immediately after his appointment, according to reporting from both outlets. Kan begins pre-retirement leave or is described as retiring, and Kong is sworn in to replace him.
Both sources say Lee appoints Kong as Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) under Article 16(2) of Hong Kong’s national security law, a step tied to the department’s leadership change. The articles also describe Kong as a former director of national security and provide his prior service within the police force. While one outlet frames the change as leadership of the “National Security Department” and the other focuses on Kong replacing Kan as “director” of the safeguarding unit, the core details—who is appointed, who is replaced, and the legal basis and immediate effect—are consistent across coverage.
No additional policy changes or operational directives are attributed to the appointment in the provided excerpts.
