China's State Council, the cabinet, on Saturday appointed 20 principal officials of the third government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) nominated by Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Among them, Henry Tang Ying-yen has been appointed Chief Secretary for Administration and John Tsang Chun-wah has been appointed Financial Secretary.

These officials will begin to carry out their duties on July 1, 2007.

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was formally reappointed Hong Kong chief executive in April this year, and his new five-year term will start on July 1, 2007.

The Hong Kong SAR Government was officially founded on July 1, 1997.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2007)