Government announces senior appointments
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    The Government announced today (February 28) the following senior appointments:

(a)  Mr Ma Lee-tak, Principal Government Engineer, will assume the post of Director of Water Supplies with effect from March 3, 2008;

(b)  Mr Peter Lau Ka-keung, Principal Government Engineer, will succeed Mr Wong Chee-keung as Director of Drainage Services with effect from March 10, 2008. Mr Wong will retire after 36 years of service; and

(c)  Captain Michael Chan Chi-pui, Chief Pilot, will succeed Captain Brian Butt Yiu-ming as Controller, Government Flying Service, with effect from March 27, 2008. Captain Butt will proceed on pre-resignation leave after 29 years of service. 

    Speaking on the appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, said, "The appointees are all seasoned civil servants with profound professional experience and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will ably lead their respective departments to face the challenges ahead and continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in their new capacities." 

    On the departure of Mr Wong Chee-keung and Captain Brian Butt, Miss Yue said, "The two officers have served with zeal and commitment in the civil service throughout the years, and have made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong in different spheres." 

      "As Director of Drainage Services, Mr Wong has led the Drainage Services Department in providing the community with an effective sewerage system and a high standard of protection against flooding.

      "As Controller, Government Flying Service, Captain Butt has devoted sustained efforts in enhancing the departmentˇ¦s professional excellence as well as maintaining customer focus for its services. Under his leadership, the Government Flying Service has provided our community with quality search, rescue and aviation support services.

      "We sincerely wish Mr Wong a happy retirement and Captain Butt the best in his future endeavours."

    Brief biographical notes on the five officers are set out below:

Mr Wong Chee-keung, JP
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    Aged 60. Mr Wong joined the Government in August 1971 as an Apprentice Engineer. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in January 1992, to Government Engineer in October 1995 and to Principal Government Engineer in August 2001. He has been Director of Drainage Services since October 2005. 

Mr Ma Lee-tak, JP
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    Aged 54. Mr Ma joined the Government in August 1979 as an Assistant Engineer. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in January 1996, to Government Engineer in November 2000 and to Principal Government Engineer in October 2004. He is currently the Project Manager (Hong Kong Island and Islands) in the Civil Engineering and Development Department. 

Mr Peter Lau Ka-keung, JP
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    Aged 51. Mr Lau joined the Government in August 1980 as an Assistant Engineer. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in July 1996, to Government Engineer in January 2001 and to Principal Government Engineer in September 2004. He is currently the Deputy Commissioner for Transport/Planning and Technical Services in the Transport Department. 

Captain Brian Butt Yiu-ming
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    Aged 53. Captain Butt joined the Government in May 1978 as a Probationary Inspector of Police. He was appointed as a Pilot in the then Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (renamed the Government Flying Service in 1993) in April 1986. He was promoted to Senior Pilot in November 1989 and to Chief Pilot in January 1993. He has been Controller, Government Flying Service, since August 1996. 

Captain Michael Chan Chi-pui, MBS, GMSM
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    Aged 45. Captain Chan joined the Government in August 1983 as an Air Traffic Control Assistant III in the Civil Aviation Department. He was appointed as a Pilot in the then Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (now the Government Flying Service) in August 1990. He was promoted to Senior Pilot in November 2000 and to Chief Pilot in January 2006.

Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00

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