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The Government announced today (May 26) the appointment of Mr Alan Wong Chi-kong to the post of Commissioner for Transport to succeed Mr Robert Footman with effect from June 18, 2005.
"Mr Wong has accumulated rich experience in public administration through various postings in his career in the civil service. I have full confidence in his leadership ability," the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, said. "I am certain that he can rise to challenge in leading the Transport Department in enhancing the development of the transport and traffic systems in Hong Kong to meet the community needs."
Brief biographical notes on Mr Footman and Mr Wong are set out below:
Mr Robert Charles Law Footman, JP
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Aged 52. Mr Footman joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in September, 1974, and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January, 1997.
Mr Footman has served in various bureaux and departments, including the then Civil Service Branch, New Territories Administration, Environment Branch, Transport Branch, Recreation and Culture Department, Trade Department and London Office. He was Deputy Director-General of Trade from September, 1989, to May, 1992, Head of the Efficiency Unit from May, 1992, to November 1995, and Postmaster General from November, 1995, to November, 1998. He took up his current appointment as the Commissioner for Transport in November, 1998.
Mr Alan Wong Chi-kong, JP
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Aged 49. Mr Wong joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in November, 1979, and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in January, 1998.
Mr Wong has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Home Affairs Branch, Civil Service Branch, Urban Services Department, City and New Territories Administration, Health and Welfare Branch, Recreation and Culture Branch, Secretariat of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee and Trade and Industry Branch. He was the Commissioner of Insurance from August, 1996, to January, 2000, and was seconded to the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority to assume the post of Deputy Managing Director from January, 2000, to June, 2001. In July, 2001, he took up the post of Director of Information Technology Services and was subsequently appointed the Government Chief Information Officer from July, 2004 to January, 2005. Mr Wong has just completed training at the Peking University in Beijing.
Ends/Thursday, May 26, 2005
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