CE-elect's Office ready to facilitate smooth transition (with photo)
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     The Government announced today (March 20) that the Office of the Chief Executive-elect (CE-elect) has been established to ensure a smooth transition to the next term.

     In January 2012, the Administration informed the Constitutional Affairs Panel of the Legislative Council of its plan to set up the CE-elect's Office to support the CE-elect in undertaking his major work, including forming a governing team for the new term of government, preparing for drawing up a policy plan for the new government based on the CE-elect's election platform, making arrangements with the incumbent government for a smooth transition, and liaising with different sectors of the community and participating in various official activities. After two months of preparation, the CE-elect's Office now stands ready for operation. The Director of Chief Executive's Office, Professor Gabriel M Leung, visited the CE-elect's office this afternoon to help ensure its smooth operation.

     "The CE-elect's Office will have five posts at the directorate level and over 20 posts at the non-directorate level," a government spokesman said.  "The Administration has deployed civil servants to fill four of the directorate posts, including the Secretary-general of the CE-elect's Office, the Private Secretary, Deputy Private Secretary and Press Secretary to the CE-elect," the spokesman added.  

     The CE-elect's Office is housed in the West Wing of the Central Government Offices at Lower Albert Road, on the 12th floor. It will formally commence operation on the day the fourth-term CE is elected and will cease to operate by June 30, 2012.

     Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Ms Alice Lau, assumed the post of Secretary-General (designate), CE-elect's Office on March 19, 2012.  

     Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue said, "Ms Lau is a seasoned Administrative Officer with rich experience in public administration, and good leadership and management skills.  I have every confidence that she will serve with professionalism and dedication in her new capacity to assist in co-ordinating transitional affairs and preparatory work in formulating the policy plan of the new term of government."

     A brief biographical note on Ms Lau is as follows:

Ms Alice Lau Yim

     Aged 43. Ms Lau joined the Administrative Service in August 1990 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2011.   
 
     Ms Lau has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Monetary Affairs Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office, Central Policy Unit, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch (later renamed Constitutional Affairs Bureau), the former Finance Bureau, the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office and the former Economic Services Bureau (later renamed Economic Development and Labour Bureau).  She was Secretary, Committee on Review of Public Service Broadcasting from February 2006 to March 2007 and Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene) from April 2007 to March 2010.  She has been Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) since March 2010.

Ends/Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:56

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