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The Government announced today (January 28) the following senior appointments:
* Mrs Rebecca Lai Ko Wing-yee, Commissioner for Tourism, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service on February 24,2003;
* Ms Anissa Wong Sean-yee, Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, will take up the post of Director of Leisure and Cultural Services on February 26, 2003 vice Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave on December 3, 2002; and
* Ms Eva Cheng, Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, will take up the post of Commissioner for Tourism on March 17, 2003 vice Mrs Rebecca Lai Ko Wing-yee.
Commenting on the above appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, said: "The appointed officers have amassed rich experience in public administration through a series of postings in their career in the Administrative Service. I have full of confidence in their leadership abilities. I am certain that they are capable of leading their team to take forward various initiatives in promoting the development of Hong Kong and enhancing public services."
As regards the retirement of Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah, Mr Wong said: "Mr Leung has served in the civil service for 31 years. He has made many exemplary contributions to the development of Hong Kong in various aspects through his long and distinguished service."
Brief biographical notes on the four officers are set out below:
Mrs Rebecca Lai Ko Wing-yee, JP
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Aged 44. Mrs Lai joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in August 1981 and was promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 2001.
Mrs Lai has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Urban Services Department, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Education and Manpower Branch, Correctional Services Department, the former Finance Branch and the former Civil Service Branch. She was Deputy Director-General of the former Trade Department from December 1995 to March 1997 and Deputy Secretary in the former Financial Services Bureau from April 1997 to December 2000. She has been Commissioner for Tourism since December 2000.
Ms Anissa Wong Sean-yee, JP
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Aged 46. Ms Wong joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in September 1979 and was promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in January 2000.
Ms Wong has served in various bureaux and departments including the former New Territories Administration, the former Housing Branch, the former Education Branch, Lands Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Survey Office, the former Urban Services Department, the then Chief Secretary's Office, Information Services Department and the former Security Branch. She was Deputy Director-General of the former Industry Department from March 1996 to April 1997 and was appointed Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service since April 1997. She doubled up the post of Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service since July 1, 2002.
Ms Eva Cheng, JP
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Aged 42. Ms Cheng joined the Administrative Service of the Hong Kong Government in August 1983 and was promoted to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in January 2001.
Ms Cheng has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Economic Services Branch, Correctional Services Department, the former Secretariat of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Transport Branch and the Financial Secretary's Office. She was Deputy Head of the Central Policy Unit from April 1996 to April 1997 and from August 1997 to December 1998, and Deputy Director of Administration from April to August 1997. She has been Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (renamed Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology on July 1, 2002) since December 1998.
Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah, JP
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Aged 55. Mr Leung joined the Government in July 1971 and was appointed to the Administrative Service in October 1973. He rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 2000.
Senior positions held by Mr Leung include : Deputy Regional Secretary (Hong Kong and Kowloon) in the former City and New Territories Administration (March 1987 to January 1989); Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (May 1989 to April 1991); Deputy Secretary in the former Recreation and Culture Branch (June 1991 to February 1994); Secretary-General of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service (March 1994 to October 1995); Deputy Secretary for Transport (November 1995 to August 1997) and Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative, Tokyo (September 1997 to December 1999). Mr Leung was Director of Leisure and Cultural Services since January 2000 until he proceeded on pre-retirement leave on December 3, 2002.
End/Tuesday, January 28, 2003
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