Erick Tsang Kwok-wai Resigns as Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Due to Health Reasons

The State Council of the People's Republic of Chinaannounced on January 27, 2026, the removal of Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (曾國衞) from his position as Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, following a recommendation by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

Tsang, who has held the post since April 2020, cited deteriorating health as the reason for his resignation. Speaking to the media alongside Lee before an Executive Council meeting, Tsang revealed that under the high-pressure demands of his role, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels had remained elevated above 11 for an extended period, indicating ongoing prostate cancer concerns. Despite undergoing various examinations—including ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy procedures—and adhering to medication, his condition showed no significant improvement.

After discussions with his family and doctors, Tsang decided that reducing stress and focusing on recovery was the best course of action. He chose to tender his resignation after successfully overseeing the December 2025 Legislative Council election, which achieved a turnout of 31.9%—higher than the previous election—and received strong praise from the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office for its smooth, safe, and satisfactory conduct.

Lee expressed regret over the departure, stating that he would have preferred Tsang to remain if his health permitted, but fully understood the circumstances. He thanked Tsang for his dedicated service and wished him a speedy recovery. The Chief Executive added that a successor would be identified soon, with Deputy Secretary Horace Cheung (胡健民) temporarily acting as Secretary in the interim. The bureau will review work priorities, ensure adequate staffing, and coordinate with the Civil Service Bureau for suitable appointments. Notably, key positions such as Permanent Secretary and Political Assistant were already vacant prior to Tsang's exit.

Tsang, a career immigration officer who rose to Director of Immigration before entering the accountability team, was one of the Hong Kong officials sanctioned by the United States. He expressed gratitude to the central government, the HKSAR administration, and society for their trust and support over the years, adding that he hopes to continue contributing to the community in other capacities in the future.

Lee emphasised that there are no plans for further changes to his principal officials' team amid rumours of additional reshuffles, affirming that current secretaries are actively fulfilling their duties. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will continue handling key upcoming tasks, including alignment with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and preparations for the Chief Executive Election Committee election later in 2026.