The Government announced today (March 7) the following senior appointments:

(a) Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai, Principal Government Town Planner, will take up the post of Director of Planning on March 18, 2025, to succeed Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day;

(b) Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun, Chief Pilot, will take up the post of Controller, Government Flying Service on March 13, 2025, to succeed Captain West Wu Wai-hung who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and

(c) Miss Lillian Chow, Deputy Principal Solicitor, will take up the post of Official Receiver on March 31, 2025, to succeed Ms Phyllis McKenna who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day.

     Commenting on the appointments of Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow have proven leadership and management skills, as well as profound professional knowledge. I am confident that they will be able to lead the respective departments to meet the challenges ahead."

     On the retirement of the three senior officials, Mrs Yeung thanked them for their loyal and dedicated service to the community. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement.

     Mrs Yeung said, "Mr Chung has served with diligence and commitment in the civil service throughout the past 35 years. As Director of Planning, he has made significant contributions to increasing land supply and mapping out the territorial spatial development strategy for Hong Kong and formulated sustainable land use strategies and plans in the Northern Metropolis and other new areas. Mr Chung has also played a key role in assisting the work of the Town Planning Board.

     "Captain Wu has served with devotion and commitment in the service for almost 37 years. As Controller, Government Flying Service, he has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and professional excellence of the department to provide emergency search and rescue operations as well as aviation support for the community and government departments."

     Mrs Yeung said, "Ms McKenna has served with professionalism and commitment in the civil service for 36 years. As Official Receiver, she has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and service quality of the department. She has also enhanced the image of Hong Kong by fostering international exchanges and co-operation on insolvency matters."

     Brief biographical notes of the six officers are set out below:

Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit
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     Mr Chung joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in November 1989 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in August 2010, to Government Town Planner in June 2017 and to Principal Government Town Planner in May 2019 before taking up the position as Director of Planning in January 2021.

Captain West Wu Wai-hung
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     Captain Wu joined the then Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (now the Government Flying Service) as Observer/Crewman in March 1988. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in August 1990. He was promoted to Pilot II in September 1992, to Pilot I in September 1995, to Senior Pilot in November 2000 and to Chief Pilot in October 2008. He has been the Controller, Government Flying Service since September 2019.

Ms Phyllis McKenna
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     Ms McKenna joined the Government as Solicitor in November 1988 before being promoted to Senior Solicitor in March 1992, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2006 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in October 2012. She has been the Official Receiver since February 2017.

Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai
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     Mr Yip joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in August 1994 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in September 2015, to Government Town Planner in June 2020 and to Principal Government Town Planner in September 2022. He is currently the Deputy Director of Planning/Territorial.

Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun
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     Captain Liu joined the Customs and Excise Department as Customs Officer in July 2005. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in the Government Flying Service in October 2005. He was promoted to Pilot II in April 2008, to Pilot I in June 2013, to Senior Pilot in September 2019 and to Chief Pilot in September 2023.

Miss Lillian Chow
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     Miss Chow joined the Government as Solicitor in March 2007. She was promoted to Senior Solicitor in November 2010, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2017 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in July 2020.

Ends/Friday, March 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:00

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