HONG KONG, Oct. 20(Xinhuanet)-- Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said here Thursday that the central government Thursday appointed Wong Yan Lung to take place of Elsie Leung as the Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The appointment takes effect as of Thursday, Tsang said at a press conference Thursday.

The State Council also has granted the resignation request of Elise Leung Oi-sie from the post of Secretary for Justice, which was submitted to him on Oct. 7.

Tsang has invited Leung to remain as a member of the Constitutional Development Task Force to the end of this year.

He said Leung has made great contribution to Hong Kong's rule of law, to Hong Kong and to the nation. Enditem