By Damian Grammaticas BBC Hong Kong correspondent

With the clock ticking towards the imminent introduction of Hong Kong's new ministerial-type of government, the territory's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa appears to be struggling to find new faces to fill the seats in his new "cabinet".

Mr Tung is the architect of a controversial new system that will sweep away the old way of doing things inherited from colonial times.

Mr Tung must find ministers who share his views, people who are prepared to play second fiddle to him

It is due to come into operation on 1 July. But there are few clues about who will be willing to serve as the de-facto ministers under Mr Tung.

The three people presently in the top jobs, Mr Tung's deputy, his financial secretary and his justice secretary will all continue in their posts. But that leaves 11 places empty and not much time to fill them.

His search is taking in his natural allies in the world of business where the former shipping tycoon has many friends. He is also looking among the ranks of lawyers, academics, and political advisors.

Tung's turnaround

Mr Tung is making the changes in order to strengthen his hold on the levers of power in Hong Kong. For the past five years he has run the territory with a government composed of civil servants to help him.

But the civil servants were all trained under the British colonial system, steeped in a tradition of political neutrality and objectivity. Mr Tung has grown frustrated with them and their cautious ways.

His new appointees will head government departments, giving Mr Tung much more control, and the ability to formulate and force through his own policies. The civil servants will be there to do what they are told.

Pay, perks and power

There are considerable inducements to attract likely ministerial candidates. There is real political power. There is a salary of around $500,000 a year, among the highest for a minister anywhere in the world.

There is also a car, chauffeur, and the right to hire a secretary and press spokesperson of your choice.

But the downside is Mr Tung must find ministers who share his views, people who are prepared to play second fiddle to him. They must be people who do not have an agenda of their own.

The new ministers will have to be willing to join an unpopular administration and take the fall if the policies they champion do not work.

Yes ministers

With the perception that these will be "Yes Ministers" it is perhaps not surprising there has not been a rush to join the administration.

There are tempting posts for people from the private sector

"You underestimate them if you think those who join the government only want to listen to me," said Mr Tung, acknowledging his difficulties filling the posts.

And a senior source in Mr Tung's administration said the chief executive would not resort to nepotism when searching for ministers.

"That sort of thing doesn't happen here," he said, angered at the suggestion. "We have the rule of law and a free press.

"We are exposing ourselves further to the rigours of public pressure."

There is speculation Mr Tung will find his appointees among senior figures in large corporations like Hong Kong's main telecoms company PCCW, or the industrialist Henry Tang, who is already one of his advisors.

There are tempting posts for people from the private sector including heading a Department of Housing and Land - one of the cornerstones of Hong Kong's economy - a Department of Commerce and Industry, and of Information Technology and Broadcasting.

No ministers

But at present there are still no ministers. Even the heads of the main political parties that support Mr Tung in the legislature and which say the new system is a good idea are not keen to join it.

Tsang Yok Sing leader of the pro-Beijing DAB was evasive when I asked him if he would become a minister.

"That's a highly hypothetical question. My main concern is the development of my party," he said.

"Any move on my part or my colleagues will only be taken after considering my party's needs."

And James Tien, head of the Liberal Party told me, somewhat implausibly, he would rather be a humble, powerless legislator than a minister with real clout.

"I would have to give up my role as a legislative councillor," he said. "For the good of my party I don't want to stop being a legislator to be a minister."

Old faces, new places

It all makes it very likely that some of Mr Tung's new ministers will in fact be the old civil servants who have worked under him.

But here too he has problems. So far only two, the hardline Secretary for Security Regina Ip, and the Secretary for Health and Welfare have expressed any interest.

Among the others, many may be reluctant to take political posts which will mean giving up their long-held traditions of neutrality. And in recent weeks there have been resignations by several senior civil servants.

The Secretary for Food and the Environment, Lily Yam, even burst into tears when she said she would be retiring early. It seems she would rather study art history at Cambridge University than be a minister for Mr Tung.

The source in Mr Tung's government is still confident.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating," he said. "As we will see when this system is up and running."

The problem is the pudding is half-baked and still short of several key ingredients.