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The State Council, on the nomination and recommendation by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, today (July 21) approved the appointment of Mr Lau Kong-wah as the Secretary for Home Affairs and Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching as the Secretary for the Civil Service, as well as the removal of Mr Tsang Tak-sing and Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai from their Principal Official posts.
"Mr Tsang Tak-sing and Mr Paul Tang have served Hong Kong and the Government with integrity and dedication over the years. I commend their outstanding performances and would like to extend my sincere thanks for their valuable contributions," the Chief Executive said.
Commenting on the appointment of Mr Lau Kong-wah and Mr Clement Cheung, the Chief Executive said, "Mr Lau has ample political experience. He joined the current-term government to serve as Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs in December 2012, and has since taken part actively in work related to constitutional development. As for Mr Clement Cheung, he is an experienced Administrative Officer and has served in the Government for over 30 years. His performance has been exemplary since he took up the post of Commissioner of Customs and Excise in September 2011."
"I am confident that Mr Lau and Mr Cheung are competent for their new posts and would lead their respective policy bureaux in serving the community," Mr Leung said.
Following are the biographical notes on Mr Lau Kong-wah, Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching, Mr Tsang Tak-sing and Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai:
Mr Lau Kong-wah
Aged 58, Mr Lau holds a BPhil degree in sociology from the University of Exeter and an MPhil degree in public and social administration from the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong. Mr Lau's political career began in 1985 when he was elected to be a District Councillor in Sha Tin. He was re-elected until 2003 and was elected to be a Sha Tin District Councillor again in 2011, altogether serving the district for nearly 20 years.
Mr Lau has served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1997 to 2012, and as a member of the Executive Council from 2008 to 2012, gaining much political experience. He was appointed Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs from December 2012.
Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching
Aged 53. Mr Cheung joined the Administrative Service in October 1983 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 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, Deputy Secretary for Works (later renamed Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works)) from October 2001, Commissioner of Insurance from July 2006, Postmaster General from September 2009, and Commissioner of Customs and Excise from September 2011.
Mr Tsang Tak-sing
Aged 66. 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 Paul Tang Kwok-wai
Aged 59. 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, Deputy Secretary for Transport (later renamed Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works) from May 2001, and Director of Social Welfare from November 2003, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour)/Commissioner for Labour from April 2007 (Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare after the re-organisation of the Government Secretariat). He was appointed Secretary for the Civil Service on 1 July 2012.
Ends/Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:50
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