Former police spokesman John Tse set for top government media role

John Tse is expected to take up the role of director of the Information Services Department as early as Tuesday

A Hong Kong policeman turned public relations adviser will be promoted to lead the government’s Information Services Department, the South China Morning Post has learned.

John Tse Chun-chung, who has served as the government’s information coordinator since 2024, is expected to take up the post on a three-year contract as early as Tuesday.

Tse, 49, joined the police force in 1999. He became a well-known face during the 2019 social unrest, when he led the force’s daily press conferences while still a chief superintendent.

Instead of internal promotion, the government announced in February an open recruitment exercise for two director-level positions, marking the first time it has invited applications for the posts of director of information services and director of food and environmental hygiene.

The two positions offer monthly salaries of HK$287,990 to HK$296,535 (US$36,850 to US$37,940).