HONG KONG, Jan 24 (AP) -- Commerce Secretary John Tsang on Tuesday was appointed to be the new head of the office of Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang.

John Tsang recently played the high-profile role of chairing the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting last month in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang -- who is not related to John Tsang -- said his new office director would be effective because he's good at acting as a liaison between political parties and the public.

"John is very good with communication," he said.

The position has been left vacant since Lam Woon-kwong resigned in January last year amid a sex scandal. A magazine published photos that reportedly showed the married official with another woman at a Tokyo hotel.

Joseph Wong took over John Tsang's job as the head of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau.

Denise Yue Chung-yee, who was permanent secretary for commerce, industry and technology, was appointed to Wong's job as head of the Civil Service Bureau.