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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Anthony Wu, today (November 4) announced the appointment of Dr Leung Pak-yin as the Chief Executive of the Authority, with effect from November 8, 2010 for a term of three years. Dr Leung's appointment has been endorsed by the HA Board and approved by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In making the announcement today, Mr Wu said:"With the unfailing support of all HA staff members, we are confident that Dr Leung will be able to lead and drive changes in the HA with a clear vision and mission."
"After several rounds of screening and interviews, and subsequent to a thorough deliberation, the Selection Committee chaired by myself has recommended the appointment of Dr Leung as the Chief Executive of the HA," Mr Wu added.
"Dr Leung is recommended because we are confident that his leadership and motivation will bring new impetus and lead the Authority to face future challenges. Dr Leung has demonstrated his ability in setting a clear vision for the HA's future development and for achieving practical solutions and results," Mr Wu remarked.
In accepting the appointment, Dr Leung said that he was honoured to be tasked to lead a dedicated and professional team of staff in the HA. "I am most grateful to my predecessors who have, over the years, laid a solid foundation for the Authority to provide quality healthcare to the community."
"Building on this foundation, I will drive for reinforcing the corporate governance and clinical excellence of the Authority for further development and service enhancement in the years ahead. The priority areas on top of my agenda are enhancing recruitment and retention of staff, and improving staff morale through further improvement of the working environment for our medical, nursing and other frontline colleagues; also further enhancing communication with staff members and key stakeholders; reducing waiting time in public hospitals; enhancing further the risk management culture and patient safety; and rolling out the hospital accreditation programmes to all HA hospitals," Dr Leung said.
"With the continued support of the Government, the depth of management talents within HA, as well as the teamwork of my colleagues and our partners in the community, I am confident that the HA can rise up to the challenges ahead to serve the community with a sustainable public hospital system," Dr Leung added.
Dr Leung helped set up the Centre for Health Protection and was the Controller from 2004-2007, responsible for overseeing disease prevention and public health emergency planning and response. Before that, he served in various key positions in the Government, inter alia, as Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene in 2000, taking charge of food hygiene policies, services and enforcement actions; and as Deputy Director of Health in 2002, overseeing services on drug control and regulation, and also the planning and development of public health. He was seconded to the HA in 2007. As Director (Quality and Safety), Dr Leung was entrusted to lead the newly established Quality and Safety Division and to drive significant strategic changes to reinforce clinical corporate governance and enhancing patient safety.
From February to May 2010, Dr Leung deputised as the Cluster Chief Executive (Hong Kong West)/Hospital Chief Executive (Queen Mary Hospital and Tsan Yuk Hospital), where he demonstrated his ability in hospital management.
Dr Leung is to take over from Mr Shane Solomon, who tendered his resignation in July this year and left the Authority on 25 October 2010. Ms Nancy Tse, the HA Director (Finance), has been appointed to deputise as the Chief Executive for HA in the interim period before Dr Leung's appointment. Mr Wu extended his appreciation to Ms Tse for her extra efforts and contribution during this period.
Ends/Thursday, November 4, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:08
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