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The Central People's Government, on the nomination of the Chief Executive-elect, Mr C Y Leung, today (June 28) approved the appointments of Principal Officials of the fourth term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.
The 15 Principal Officials appointed under the accountability system are on non-civil service terms. They are:
Secretaries of Departments
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Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
Financial Secretary, Mr John Tsang Chun-wah
Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC
Directors of Bureaux
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Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing
Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So Kam-leung
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam Chi-yuen
Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai
Secretary for Development, Mr Mak Chai-kwong
Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok
Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man
Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing
Also appointed today are five Principal Officials heading the disciplined services, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Audit Commission for the fourth term of the HKSAR Government. They are the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tsang Wai-hung; the Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu; the Director of Audit, Mr David Sun Tak-kei; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching; and the Director of Immigration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki.
In addition, the Government announced the appointment of Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah as the Director of the Chief Executive's Office.
Following are the biographical notes on the appointed officials:
Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
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Aged 55. Mrs Lam was Secretary for Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from July 1, 2007. Before assuming the post, Mrs Lam served the Government as an Administrative Officer for about 27 years. She joined the Administrative Service in August 1980, and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2006.
Mrs Lam has served in various bureaux and departments. She was Director of Social Welfare from August 2000 to October 2003, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands) from November 2003 to May 2004, and Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, from September 2004 to March 2006. She was Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs before her appointment as the Secretary for Development.
Mr John Tsang Chun-wah
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Aged 61. Mr Tsang was appointed Financial Secretary on July 1, 2007. Before joining the political team in 2003, he had served the Government as an Administrative Officer since November 1982. He was Administrative Assistant to the Financial Secretary from 1987 to 1991, Assistant Director-General of Trade from 1991 to early 1995, Private Secretary to the Governor from 1995 to June 1997, Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, from July 1997 to February 1999, Commissioner of Customs and Excise from March 1999 to July 2001, Secretary for Planning and Lands from July 2001 to June 2002, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands) from July 2002 to July 2003 and Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology from August 2003 to January 2006. With the successful completion of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005 that he chaired, Mr Tsang was appointed Director of the Chief Executive's Office in January 2006 until the end of the second term.
Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, SC
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Aged 48. Mr Yuen specialises in civil litigation, especially commercial disputes. His practice includes advisory and court works relating to contract disputes, shareholders and partners disputes, corporate and personal insolvency, trusts, banking and financial products disputes, international trade and arbitration.
Mr Yuen was appointed Senior Counsel in 2003 after 15 years of practice. In addition to commercial disputes, his practice has expanded to include regulatory matters and judicial reviews after becoming a Senior Counsel. He also served as an arbitrator in international arbitrations and a mediator in commercial disputes.
Mr Yuen was appointed a Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in 2006. Since then, he has handled various civil litigations as a Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for a month every year.
Mr Yuen has been involved in various public duties including: Member of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, Non-Official Member of the Independent Commission against Corruption Advisory Committee on Corruption, Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, Non-executive Director of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
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Aged 59. Professor Cheung was the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education and Chair Professor of Public Administration until June 2012. Prior to 2008, he was a Professor at the Department of Public and Social Administration of the City University of Hong Kong. Professor Cheung was a member of the Legislative Council from 1995-97.
Mr Tsang Tak-sing
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Aged 63. Mr Tsang was appointed Secretary for Home Affairs on July 1, 2007. He served as Member of the Central Policy Unit from July 1998 to June 2007. Before joining the Government, Mr Tsang was engaged in journalistic work for nearly 30 years. Mr Tsang was elected to the 7th to 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China.
Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung
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Aged 61. Mr Cheung was appointed Secretary for Labour and Welfare on July 1, 2007. He joined the Information Officer Grade of the Government in July 1972. He transferred to the Administrative Service in September 1979, and was promoted to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2004.
Mr Cheung has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Finance Branch, Home Affairs Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Government House, the former Industry Department, the former Trade Department, the former Financial Secretary's Office, Judiciary and the Central Policy Unit. He was Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower from March 1996 to January 1999, Commissioner for Labour from January 1999 to June 2000, and Director of Education from June 2000 to June 2002. He was Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour) from July 2002 to March 2007.
Professor K C Chan
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Aged 55. Professor Chan was Dean of Business and Management in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) before he was appointed Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury on July 1, 2007. Prior to joining the HKUST Business School in 1993, Professor Chan had spent nine years teaching at Ohio State University in the United States.
Professor Chan received his bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan University and his MBA and PhD in finance from the University of Chicago. He specialised in assets pricing, evaluation of trading strategies and market efficiency and has published numerous articles on these topics.
Before joining the Government, Professor Chan held a number of public service positions including Chairman of the Consumer Council, director of the Hong Kong Futures Exchange, and member of the Commission on Strategic Development, Commission on Poverty, the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee, the Hang Seng Index Advisory Committee, and the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. He was former President of the Asian Finance Association and President of Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools.
Mr Gregory So Kam-leung
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Aged 53. Mr So was appointed Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in June 2011 and Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in June 2008. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau is responsible for various policy matters including Hong Kong's external commercial relations, inward investment promotion, intellectual property protection, industry and business support, tourism, consumer protection, competition, information technology, telecommunications, broadcasting, film-related issues, creative industries and development of innovation and technology.
Mr Raymond Tam Chi-yuen
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Aged 48. Mr Tam was appointed Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs in September 2011. He assumed the post of Director of the Chief Executive's Office in August 2009. He was appointed Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs in June 2008. Mr Tam joined the Administrative Service in September 1987. He rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B in 2007. Mr Tam has served in various policy bureaux and departments, including the Home Affairs Bureau, the Central Policy Unit, the former Constitutional Affairs Bureau, the Financial Secretary's Office, the Chief Executive's Office, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, and the Information Services Department.
Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai
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Aged 56. Mr Tang joined the Administrative Service in October 1978 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2008.
Mr Tang has served in various bureaux and departments including the Home Affairs Department, the former Social Services Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Urban Services Department, the former Lands and Works Branch, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the former Chief Secretary's Office Administration Wing, and the Secretariat of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service. He was Deputy Secretary for the Environment and Food from January 2000 to April 2001, Deputy Secretary for Transport (later renamed Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works) from May 2001 to October 2003, and Director of Social Welfare from November 2003 to March 2007. Mr Tang was appointed as Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour)/Commissioner for Labour in April 2007 until June 2007.
After the re-organisation of the Government Secretariat in July 2007, Mr Tang served as Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare until the present day.
Mr Mak Chai-kwong
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Aged 62. Mr Mak joined the Government as an Assistant Engineer in August 1976. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in August 1994, to Government Engineer in May 1997, and to Principal Government Engineer in June 2000. He was Project Manager of New Territories East Development Office in the former Territory Development Department from June 2000 to November 2002, and Director of Highways from November 2002 to September 2006. He had been Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works) since September 2006. After the re-organisation of the Government Secretariat in July 2007, he served as Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) until June 2010. After retirement, he was appointed Team Leader of the Sichuan Reconstruction Team in the Development Bureau.
Mr Lai Tung-kwok
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Aged 60. Mr Lai was appointed Under Secretary for Security in October 2009 and assumed office from November 1 until present day. He joined the Immigration Department in December 1973 and was promoted to the post of Director of Immigration in July 2002. During his 34 years of service with the Immigration Department, Mr Lai has served in many different positions and headed branches dealing with visa and policies, personal documentation, liaison and support and more.
Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim
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Aged 59. Mr Ng joined the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in 1977. He also took up positions in the human resources management departments in a number of leading multi-national corporations, including Mital Asia, Motorola, Citibank, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Jardine Fleming JPMorgan Chase & Co and Macquarie Securities Asia.
Dr Ko Wing-man
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Aged 55. Dr Ko served in the Hong Kong Hospital Authority for more than ten years and has rich experience in the administration of public medical service.
Dr Ko has participated in the clinical and administrative work of the public and private medical systems for many years. He has deep knowledge of their operation and the entire system. He has also established a broad network in the fields of medical service and other professional services. As part of the management in the public medical system for a long period of time, Dr Ko is well-versed in administration and management.
Mr Wong Kam-sing
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Aged 48. Mr Wong has been Vice-President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Chairman of the Professional Green Building Council and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Green Building Council. He was also Director and Director of Sustainable Design of the Ronald Lu & Partners architecture firm.
For more than 20 years, Mr Wong has participated actively in designing, researching, educating and championing green buildings. He was Member of the Support Group on "Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment" of the Council for Sustainable Development from 2009 to 2010, and Convenor of the Support Group on "Combating Climate Change: Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings" of the Council for Sustainable Development from 2011 to 2012.
Mr Tsang Wai-hung
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Aged 54. Mr Tsang joined the Hong Kong Police Force in January 1978 as a Probationary Inspector. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 1998, Assistant Commissioner in 2003 and Senior Assistant Commissioner in 2005. He has been Deputy Commissioner since January 2008.
Mr Tsang has held a variety of posts in the Police Force responsible for frontline operational duties, management work and crime investigations. Between 1993 and 1995 he was seconded to the Metropolitan Police in London, United Kingdom, where he worked as a detective superintendent. He served in a number of posts including Senior Superintendent (Crime) (New Territories North Headquarters), District Commander (Wan Chai) and Chief Superintendent (Organised Crime and Triad Bureau) between 1996 and 2003.
Mr Tsang served as Assistant Commissioner (Information Systems Wing) from 2003 to 2005. During his tenure as Senior Assistant Commissioner between February 2005 and January 2008, he served as Director of Personnel and Training and Director of Operations. He became Deputy Commissioner (Management) in January 2008 and Deputy Commissioner (Operations) in March 2010. He was appointed Commissioner of Police in January 2011.
Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu
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Aged 56. Mr Peh joined the Immigration Department as an Immigration Officer in April 1978. He was promoted to Senior Immigration Officer in August 1984, to Chief Immigration Officer in February 1991, to Assistant Principal Immigration Officer in October 1995 and to Principal Immigration Officer in June 2000. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Immigration in June 2004 and took up the post of Deputy Director of Immigration in September 2006. He was Director of Immigration from April 2008 to March 2011.
Mr David Sun Tak-kei
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Aged 58. Mr Sun joined Ernst & Young after he obtained a Master's degree in Accounting Science in 1977. He was Far East Area Chairman when he left Ernst & Young in 2010.
Mr Sun was President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2003. He is currently a member of the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Chairman of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Council of the City University of Hong Kong, member of the Housing Authority, Process Review Panel for the Securities and Futures Commission and Investment Committee of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.
Mr Sun is a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching
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Aged 50. Mr Cheung joined the Administrative Service in October 1983 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2011. He received appointment as Commissioner of Customs and Excise in August 2011 and assumed office on September 1, 2011.
Mr Cheung served in various bureaux and departments during his civil service career, including the former Office of Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Office of Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office and the Housing Department. He was Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore from August 1998 to October 2001, Deputy Secretary for Works (later renamed Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works)) from October 2001 to June 2006, Commissioner of Insurance from July 2006 to September 2009 and Postmaster General from September 2009 to August 2011.
Mr Chan Kwok-ki
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Aged 53. Mr Chan joined the Immigration Department as an Assistant Immigration Officer in October 1982. He was promoted to Immigration Officer in September 1989, to Senior Immigration Officer in December 1995, to Chief Immigration Officer in December 2000, to Assistant Principal Immigration Officer in January 2003 and to Principal Immigration Officer in August 2004. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Immigration in April 2007 and has served as Assistant Director (Enforcement and Litigation) and Assistant Director (Visa and Policies). He became Deputy Director of Immigration in September 2009. Mr Chan was appointed Director of Immigration in March 2011.
Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah
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Aged 52. Mr Yau served the HKSAR Government as Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012. He oversaw the policies for promoting the environmental well-being of Hong Kong, and his responsibilities cover environmental protection, energy, nature conservation and sustainable development, with a view to building Hong Kong into a greener city.
Mr Yau takes with him to his ministerial post more than 20 years of public administration experience. He joined the Government as an Administrative Officer in 1981. During his years as a career civil servant he has held various positions, including Director of Information Services, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry, as well as Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington.
Mr Yau graduated from the University of Hong Kong. He received further education at Oxford University and at Harvard University.
Ends/Thursday, June 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:59
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