2021 Hong Kong cabinet reshuffle

Non-principal officials are italicised.

Minister		Party		Before reshuffle	After reshuffle
	John Lee Ka-chiu SBS PDSM PMSM JP		Nonpartisan	Secretary for Security	Chief Secretary for Administration
	Chris Tang Ping-keung PDSM		Nonpartisan	Commissioner of Police	Secretary for Security
	Raymond Siu Chak-yee PDSM PMSM		Nonpartisan	Deputy Commissioner of Police	Commissioner of Police
	Matthew Cheung Kin-chung GBM GBS JP		Nonpartisan	Chief Secretary for Administration	Left the government

Matthew Cheung, after more than four years as Chief Secretary, said that it had been a "true honour and privilege" to serve Hong Kong for nearly 50 years. He wished that Hong Kong would maintain its long-term stability and prosperity, and all citizens of Hong Kong good health and happiness.^[6]

John Lee, a former police officer, was promoted from Security Secretary to Chief Secretary, becoming the first former member of the disciplined services after the handover of Hong Kong in 1997 and the second in the history of Hong Kong to became the second-in-command (William Caine, first head of Police Force was appointed as Colonial Secretary, equivalent to now Chief Secretary, in 1846), as nearly all of his predecessors were former administrative officials.^[7][8] The appointment was relatively surprising as rumours believed Carrie Lam-favoured Patrick Nip, then Civil Service Secretary and former Constitutional Secretary, would be raised to succeed Cheung.^[9][10]

The two new cabinet ministers were the leading figures in cracking down on the protests, and had been sanctioned by the United States in August 2020 for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy.^[11][12] The new cabinet signalled the dominance of the "hawks" and that the government would continue the hardline attitude. Some were concerned the reshuffle could transform Hong Kong into a "police state".^[10][13]

On 27 June 2021, Lee became the acting Chief Executive after Carrie Lam departed Hong Kong to attend celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, only four days after Lee's promotion.^[14] John Lee would later become the chairman of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, responsible for vetting election candidates.^[15]