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The Government announced today (Tuesday) that the Central People's Government has, on the nomination and recommendation of the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, made the following appointments of Principal Officials:
* Mrs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai, Director of Administration, will become Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting in place of Mr Kwong Ki-chi, who will be leaving the civil service shortly;
* Mr Stephen Ip Shu-kwan, Secretary for Economic Services, will become Secretary for Financial Services in place of Mr Rafael Hui Si-yan, who will be leaving the civil service;
* Ms Sandra Lee Suk-yee, Director-General, London, will succeed Mr Stephen Ip as Secretary for Economic Services;
* Mr W K Lam, Secretary for the Civil Service, will succeed Mr David Lan Hong-tsung as Secretary for Home Affairs. Mr Lan will retire at the end of May 2000;
* Mr Joseph Wong Wing-ping, Secretary for Education and Manpower, will take over from Mr W K Lam as Secretary for the Civil Service; and
* Mrs Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, Director of Education, will succeed Mr Joseph Wong as Secretary for Education and Manpower.
The Government also announced that Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Commissioner for Labour, will take over from Mrs Fanny Law as Director of Education.
Mr Kwong Ki-chi and Mr Rafael Hui have, for personal reasons, tendered their resignations and will be leaving the civil service shortly. Mr David Lan will reach the retirement age of 60 at the end of May and will then proceed on pre-retirement leave. The Central People's Government has approved the removal of the three officers as Principal Officials when they leave the service.
When commenting on the above appointments of Principal Officials, the Chief Executive expressed confidence in the newly-appointed officers. He said: "Among the officers appointed on this occasion, three are serving Principal Officials who have effectively led their policy bureaux over the years. They also have previous working experience in their respective new jobs. I firmly believe that, with their rich experience and distinguished abilities, they will continue to promote the work of the bureaux under their charge. The other three officers, namely Mrs Fanny Law, Mrs Carrie Yau and Ms Sandra Lee are all highly capable and experienced officials well suited for appointment as bureau heads."
As regards the departure of Mr Kwong Ki-chi, Mr Rafael Hui and Mr David Lan, the Chief Executive said: "Mr Kwong and Mr Hui have in recent years made significant contributions to promoting information technology, competition in the telecommunications market and strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre respectively. They have a distinguished record of public service. Both the Chief Secretary for Administration and I are sad that they are leaving the service. But we fully respect their personal decisions and would like to thank them for their public service over the years. Mr David Lan has rendered close to 39 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Government, and has been untiring in promoting district administration and the Government's external relations. We wish him well in his retirement."
Commenting on the posting of Mr Matthew Cheung as Director of Education, Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Anson Chan said: "Mr Cheung has considerable experience in departmental management and a good understanding of education policies as the former Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower. I am confident that he will lead the Education Department effectively to carry on with its reforms."
A government spokesman said that the posting dates for the various officers would be confirmed later. The Administration will also announce in due course successors to the posts of Director of Administration, Commissioner for Labour and Director-General, London.
Biographical notes of the 10 officers are as follows:
Mrs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai
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Mrs Yau joined the Hong Kong Government in July 1977. Initially an Executive Officer, she joined the Administrative Service in October 1977. She was promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 1998. Mrs Yau is aged 44.
Positions held by Mrs Yau in recent years include: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Mar - Nov 1994); Deputy Information Co-ordinator (Nov 1994 - Oct 1995); and Deputy Secretary for Security (Oct 1995 - Aug 1997). She has been Director of Administration in the Chief Secretary's Office since August 1997.
Mr Stephen Ip Shu-kwan
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Mr Ip joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in November 1973 and was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in April 1997. He is aged 48.
Senior positions held by Mr Ip include: Principal Assistant Secretary for Monetary Affairs (Jan - Nov 1987): Deputy Secretary for Monetary Affairs (Dec 1987 - Nov 1992); Special Assistant to the then Deputy President of the Legislative Council (Nov 1992 - Mar 1993); Commissioner of Insurance (May 1993 - Dec 1994) and Commissioner for Labour (Dec 1994 - Mar 1996). He took up his present position of Secretary for Economic Services in June 1996 and was appointed a Principal Official in July 1997.
Ms Sandra Lee Suk-yee
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Ms Lee joined the Hong Kong Government in June 1974 as an Executive Officer. She was appointed to the Administrative Service in August 1979 and promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 1999. She is aged 47.
Ms Lee has served in various policy bureaux and departments over the years. She was posted twice as Counsellor (now known as Deputy Director-General) in Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs Office in Washington (1985 - 1988 and 1993 - 1995). Positions held in recent years include Deputy Director, Home Affairs Department (Sep 1995 - Mar 1996) and Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (Apr 1996 - Feb 1999). She has been Director-General, London since March 1999.
Mr W K Lam
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Mr Lam joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer in August 1974 and was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in April 1997. He is aged 48.
Senior positions held by Mr Lam in recent years include: Deputy Director, Regional Services Department (Oct 1989 - Sep 1991); Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (Sep 1991 - Feb 1993); Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower (Mar 1993 - Dec 1994) and Director of Education (Dec 1994 - Jan 1996). He took up his present position as Secretary for the Civil Service in February 1996 and was appointed a Principal Official in July 1997.
Mr Joseph Wong Wing-ping
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Mr Wong joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in August 1973 and was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in June 1996. He is now 51 years old.
Senior positions held by Mr Wong in recent years include: Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (Jan 1988 - Dec 1989); Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry (Dec 1989 - Jul 1991); Hong Kong's Permanent Representative to GATT (Aug 1991 - Aug 1994) and Director of Home Affairs (Dec 1994 - Aug 1995). He has been Secretary for Education and Manpower since September 1995. He was appointed a Principal Official in July 1997.
Mrs Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun
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Mrs Law joined the Government as an Executive Officer in September 1975. She transferred to the Administrative Service in October 1977 and was promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 1997. She is aged 47.
Senior positions held by Mrs Law include: Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (Feb 1991 - Apr 1994); Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands (Apr - Nov 1994); Senior Assistant Director and later Deputy Director, Housing Department (Nov 1994 - Jun 1996); Director, Chief Executive's Office (Jan - Jul 1997); and Commissioner for Transport (Aug 1997 - Nov 1998). She has been Director of Education since November 1998.
Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung
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Mr Cheung joined the Information Officer grade of the Government in July 1972. He transferred to the Administrative Service in September 1979 and was promoted to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 2000. He is aged 49.
While serving in the Administrative Service, Mr Cheung has served in various bureaux and departments. Positions held in recent years include: Administrative Assistant to the Financial Secretary (Jul 1991 - Sep 1993); Deputy Judiciary Administrator (Sep 1993 - Apr 1995); Deputy Head, Central Policy Unit (May 1995 - Mar 1996) and Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower (Mar 1996 - Dec 1998). He took up his present position of Commissioner for Labour in January 1999.
Mr Kwong Ki-chi
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Mr Kwong joined the Trade Officer grade of the Hong Kong Government in September 1972 and transferred to the Administrative Service in October 1978. He was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in June 1996. He is aged 48.
Senior positions held by Mr Kwong include: Principal Assistant Secretary for Monetary Affairs (May 1988 - Aug 1989); Deputy Commissioner, London Office (Aug 1989 - Feb 1992); Deputy Secretary for the Treasury (Apr 1992 - Mar 1995) and Secretary for the Treasury (Apr 1995 - Apr 1998). He became the first Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting in April 1998.
Mr Kwong has been a Principal Official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) since July 1997.
Mr Rafael Hui Si-yan
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Mr Hui joined the Government in September 1970 as an Assistant Education Officer. He transferred to the Administrative Service in August 1971 and was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in June 1996. Mr Hui is now 52 years old.
Senior positions held by Mr Hui include: Deputy Secretary for Economic Services (Oct 1986 - Jul 1990); Deputy Secretary for Works (Jul 1990 - Feb 1991); Director, New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office (Feb 1991 - Oct 1992) and Commissioner for Transport (Nov 1992 - Jul 1995). He took up his present position of Secretary for Financial Services in September 1995 and was appointed a Principal Official of HKSARG in July 1997.
Mr David Lan Hong-tsung
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Mr Lan joined the Government in 1961 as a Certificated Master. He transferred to the Administrative Service in 1966 and was promoted to his present rank of Director of Bureau in March 1999.
Senior positions held by Mr Lan in recent years include: Deputy Director, Education Department (Jun 1987 - Sep 1988); Regional Secretary (Hong Kong and Kowloon) (Sep 1988 - Sep 1991) and Principal Representative, Tokyo (Oct 1991 - Sep 1997). He has been Secretary for Home Affairs and a Principal Official since September 1997.
Mr Lan will be aged 60 at the end of May 2000.
End/Tuesday, February 29, 2000
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