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The Government announced today (May 13) that Ms Irene Young Bick-kwan, Deputy Representative in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, will assume the post of Permanent Representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) with effect from May 19, 2014. She will succeed Mr Michael Vernon Stone, who will retire after 37 years of service.
Commenting on the appointment, Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, said, "Ms Young is a seasoned Administrative Officer with rich experience in public administration and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that she will continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in her new capacity and ably lead her office to meet the challenges ahead."
On the retirement of Mr Stone, Mr Tang said, "Mr Stone has served with loyalty and commitment in the civil service throughout the years, and has made exemplary contributions to the development of Hong Kong in various spheres. During his tenure as Permanent Representative of the HKSAR of China to the WTO, Mr Stone has contributed positively in promoting and protecting Hong Kong's trade interests, earning well-deserved respect from the WTO Secretariat and other WTO Members. We sincerely wish him a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on the two officers are set out below:
Mr Michael Vernon Stone
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Aged 59, Mr Stone joined the Administrative Service in September 1976 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B in January 1993.
Mr Stone has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Transport Department, the former New Territories Administration, the former Finance Branch, the former University and Polytechnic Grants Committee, the former Recreation and Culture Department, the former Municipal Services Branch, the former Security Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, and the former Trade and Industry Branch (later renamed Trade and Industry Bureau and then Commerce and Industry Bureau). He served as E-government Co-ordinator from August 2001 to August 2003, Secretary-General, University Grants Committee from September 2003 to September 2011, and Deputy Representative in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva from September 2011 to September 2012. Mr Stone has been Permanent Representative of the HKSAR of China to the WTO since September 2012.
Ms Irene Young Bick-kwan
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Aged 46, Ms Young joined the Administrative Service in August 1990 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B in April 2010.
Ms Young has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Civil Service Branch, the former Transport Branch, Home Affairs Department, the former Office of the Telecommunications Authority, the former Finance Branch (later renamed Finance Bureau), the former Economic Services Bureau (later renamed Economic Development and Labour Bureau), the former Education and Manpower Bureau (later renamed Education Bureau), and Labour and Welfare Bureau. She served as Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare) from October 2009 to December 2012. Ms Young has been Deputy Representative in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva since January 2013.
Ends/Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:01
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