Senior Appointments

The Government announced today (January 25) the following senior appointments:

* Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Director-General, London, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs;

* Mr Andrew Wong Ho-yuen, Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office, will assume the post of Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service.  He will replace Mrs Rebecca Lai Ko Wing-yee who will be leaving the civil service in July this year;

* Miss Yvonne Choi Ying-pik, Director of Information Services, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Commerce and Industry); and

* Ms Chang King-yiu, Director of Administration, will assume the post of Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office.

Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue said: "The appointees are all veteran Administrative Officers with rich experience in public administration and proven leadership and management abilities.  I have every confidence that they will ably lead their respective offices and continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in their new capacities."

On the departure of Mrs Rebecca Lai, Miss Yue said: "Mrs Lai will have served in the civil service for almost 25 years when she leaves in July this year.  She has a distinguished record of public service and is a well-respected member of the Administrative Service.  Throughout her career, Mrs Lai has served with enthusiasm and admirable abilities in many different fields, most recently in financial services, tourism and civil service.  We are saddened to learn of her resignation but would respect her personal decision.  I would like to extend to Mrs Lai and her family our warmest wishes for the future."

Appointments to the offices of Director-General, London, Director of Information Services and Director of Administration will be separately announced.

Brief biographical notes on the five officers are set out below:

Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, JP

Aged 48, Mrs Lam joined the Administrative Service in August 1980 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 2001.

Mrs Lam has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Housing Branch, the former Office of Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Security Branch, the former Survey Office, the former Securities Review Committee, the former Monetary Affairs Branch, the former Lands and Works Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the Department of Health and the former Finance Branch.  She was Director of Social Welfare from August 2000 to October 2003, and Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands) from November 2003 to May 2004.  She has taken up the post of Director-General, London since September 2004.

Mr Andrew Wong Ho-yuen, JP

Aged 46, Mr Wong joined the Administrative Service in August 1982 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in January 2001.

Mr Wong has served in various bureaux and departments including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Office of Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Trade Department, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, the then Chief Secretary's Office (later renamed Chief Secretary for Administration's Office) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels.  He was Director of Administration from August 2000 to March 2004, and Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities from March 2004 to July 2005.  He has been Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office since August 2005.

Miss Yvonne Choi Ying-pik, JP

Aged 55, Miss Choi joined the overnment in October 1973 and has served in the Translator, Labour Officer and Trade Officer Grades.  Miss Choi was a member of the Trade Officer Grade for 12 years before joining the Administrative Service at the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade C in April 1989.  She rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2004.

Miss Choi has served in various bureaux and departments including the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, the former Economic Services Branch, the then Chief Secretary's Office, the then Official Languages Agency and the then Trade Department.  She was Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry (later renamed Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Industry) from November 1998 to August 2001.  She has taken up the post of Director of Information Services since January 2002.

Ms Chang King-yiu, JP

Aged 44, Ms Chang joined the Administrative Service in August 1983 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in July 2002.

Ms Chang has served in various bureaux and departments including the former City and New Territories Administration (and later the Home Affairs Department), the former Medical and Health Department, the former Transport Branch, the former Security Branch, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch and the former Home Affairs Branch.  Ms Chang was Deputy Secretary for Security from January 1997 to October 2000, and Deputy Director of Administration from October 2000 to March 2004.  She has assumed the post of Director of Administration since March 2004.

Mrs Rebecca Lai Ko Wing-yee, JP

Aged 47, Mrs Lai joined the Administrative Service in August 1981 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2004.

Mrs Lai has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Urban Services Department, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Education and Manpower Branch, Correctional Services Department, the former Finance Branch, the former Civil Service Branch and the former Trade Department.  She was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services from April 1997 to December 2000, and Commissioner for Tourism from December 2000 to February 2003.  She has been Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service since February 2003.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006