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The Government announced today (August 26) that the Central People's Government has, on the nomination and recommendation of the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, approved the appointment of Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching, currently Postmaster General, as Commissioner of Customs and Excise. Mr Cheung will take up the post with effect from September 1, 2011, succeeding Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai.
At the same time, the Government also announced the following senior appointments:
(a) Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai, currently Commissioner of Customs and Excise, will assume the post of Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) on September 9, 2011. He will succeed Ms Sandra Lee Suk-yee, who will retire after 37 years of service with the Government; and
(b) Mrs Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei, currently Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), will assume the post of Postmaster General on October 3, 2011.
Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, said, "The appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with rich experience in public administration and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in their new capacities, and ably lead their offices to meet the challenges ahead."
On the retirement of Ms Lee, Miss Yue said, "Ms Lee has served with strong drive and dedication in the civil service throughout the years. She has made exemplary contributions to the development of Hong Kong.
"During her tenure as Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Lee has made commendable efforts in promoting the health of our population and ensuring the sustainability of our health-care system. With her distinguished administrative and management skills, she steered through the exercise to expand the no-smoking areas to all indoor workplaces and public places. She also played a pivotal role in leading the health-care reform, as well as inter-departmental efforts to handle various public health crises, including not least the outbreak of human swine influenza in 2009. We sincerely wish her a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on the four officers are set out below:
Ms Sandra Lee Suk-yee
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Aged 59. Ms Lee joined the Government in June 1974 as an Executive Officer. She transferred to the Administrative Service in August 1979 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in July 2002.
Ms Lee has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former New Territories Administration, Information Services Department, the former Economic Services Branch, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Trade Department, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, the former Civil Service Branch (later renamed Civil Service Bureau) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. She was Secretary for Economic Services from July 2000 to June 2002, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Economic Development) from July 2002 to April 2006, and Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Health and Welfare) from May 2006 to June 2007. She has been Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) since July 2007.
Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai
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Aged 55. Mr Yuen joined the Administrative Service in August 1980 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2009.
Mr Yuen has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Security Branch, Home Affairs Department, the former Urban Services Department, the former Home Affairs Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Councils and Administration Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office, the former Economic Services Branch (later renamed Economic Services Bureau) and the Chief Executive's Office. He was Deputy Director in the Chief Executive's Office from March to October 2003, Commissioner of Insurance from December 2003 to July 2006, and Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Food and Environmental Hygiene) from January to June 2007. He has been Commissioner of Customs and Excise since July 2007.
Mr Clement Cheung Wan-ching
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Aged 49. Mr Cheung joined the Administrative Service in October 1983 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2011.
Mr Cheung has served in various bureaux and departments, 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 Housing Department. He was Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs, 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, and Commissioner of Insurance from July 2006 to September 2009. He has been Postmaster General since September 2009.
Mrs Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei
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Aged 48. Mrs Ting joined the Administrative Service in September 1985 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2005.
Mrs Ting has served in various bureaux and departments, including Housing Department, the former General Duties Branch, the former Economic Services Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau and the former Works Bureau. She was Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service from June 2001 to July 2005, Private Secretary to Chief Executive from July 2005 to July 2007, and Deputy Secretary for Security from July 2007 to September 2009. She has been Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) since September 2009.
Ends/Friday, August 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:10
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