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The Government Logistics Department (GLD), formed by merging the existing Government Land Transport Agency, Government Supplies Department and Printing Department, will commence operation tomorrow (July 1).

Announcing the establishment of the new department, Mr Frederick Ma, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said today (June 30): "The merger represents a major step forward in our efforts to streamline government structure. It demonstrates the Government's resolve and commitment to further improve the efficiency of government operation and cost-effectiveness of our services."

"Through the re-organisation and the establishment of the new department, we aim to promote greater synergies in the provision of logistic support services to government departments, thus doing more with less," Mr Ma said.

The amalgamation of the three departments into GLD, along with other planned initiatives to streamline operation, will bring about a total net reduction of 60 posts at both Directorate and non-Directorate levels, which will cut government expenditure on staffing by some $26.5 million each year upon full implementation.

The GLD will be headed by Mrs Stella Hung, currently Director of Government Supplies.

Commenting on her new appointment as Director of Government Logistics, Mrs Hung said she welcomed the new challenge and noted that "the transformation of three departments into one would provide a firm foundation for further re-engineering of processes for greater efficiency of operation."

"From earlier consultation, staff in the departments have indicated support to the re-organisation. I am confident that together we will rise to the new challenge and take full advantage of the new opportunities."

"Our mission is to provide effective and efficient support to other bureaux and departments so they may serve the public more effectively and efficiently," Mrs Hung added.

Mrs Hung has been the Director of Government Supplies since last September and will take up the new post as Director of Government Logistics upon establishment of the GLD tomorrow.

Following is the biographical note on Mrs Hung :

Aged 49, Mrs Hung joined the Administrative Service of the civil service in November 1976 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 on January 1,1997.

Mrs Hung has served in various bureaux and departments, including Social Welfare Department, the former Monetary Affairs Branch, the former New Territories Administration, Home Affairs Department, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Industry Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Finance Branch and the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office. She was Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs from September 1992 to January 1998; Deputy Secretary for Works from January 1998 to March 2001; and Deputy Secretary for the Environment and Food (renamed Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food on July 1, 2002) from April 2001 to August 2002. She has been Director of Government Supplies since September 2002.

End/Monday, June 30, 2003

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