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The Government announced today (September 9) the following senior appointments:
(a) Miss Mary Chow Shuk-ching, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Deputy Director of Housing, will take up the post of Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities on October 6, 2008. She will succeed Mr Duncan Pescod who has been appointed Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology); and
(b) Mr Donald Tong Chi-keung, Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, will succeed Miss Margaret Fong Shun-man as Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, on October 20, 2008.
Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, said, "The appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with rich experience in public administration and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in their new capacities, and ably lead their offices to meet the challenges ahead."
Brief biographical notes on the two officers are set out below:
Miss Mary Chow Shuk-ching, JP
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Aged 46. Miss Chow joined the Administrative Service in August 1984 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2007.
Miss Chow has served in various bureaux and departments including the Social Welfare Department, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the Central Policy Unit, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. She was Deputy Secretary for Economic Services (later retitled Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Economic Development)) from December 2000 to March 2003, and Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Commerce and Industry) from April 2003 to August 2006. She has been Deputy Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) (later retitled Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing))/Deputy Director of Housing since August 2006.
Mr Donald Tong Chi-keung, JP
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Aged 47. Mr Tong joined the Government in August 1983 as an Executive Officer. He transferred to the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2008.
Mr Tong has served in various bureaux and departments including the Transport Department, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto and the former Environment and Food Bureau. He was Deputy Secretary for Environment and Food (later retitled Deputy Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works (Environment)) from May 2001 to April 2003, and Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene from April 2003 to November 2006. He has been Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs since November 2006.
Ends/Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:01
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