********************************
The Government announced today (May 24) that Mr Joseph Lai Yee-tak, Commissioner for Transport, will assume the post of Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport) on May 28, 2012. He will succeed Mr Francis Ho, who will retire after 35 years of service with the Government.
Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, said, "Mr Joseph Lai is a veteran Administrative Officer with rich and extensive experience in public administration and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that he will continue to serve the community with professionalism and dedication in his new capacity."
On the retirement of Mr Francis Ho, Miss Yue said, "Mr Ho has served with strong drive and dedication in the civil service throughout the years. He has made exemplary contributions to the development of Hong Kong.
"During his tenure as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Mr Ho played a pivotal role in taking forward a number of significant transport infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the West Island Line, the South Island Line (East), the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the Shatin to Central Link. With his distinguished administrative and management skills, he steered through various legislative exercises to combat drug- and drink-driving for the protection of road safety. He has also made commendable efforts in sustaining the position of Hong Kong as an international aviation and maritime hub. We sincerely wish him a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on Mr Ho and Mr Lai are set out below:
Mr Francis Ho Suen-wai
----------------------
Aged 59. Mr Ho joined the Government in August 1976, serving initially as an Executive Officer and later as an Assistant Trade Officer. He joined the Administrative Service in September 1979 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in July 2003.
Mr Ho has served in various bureaux and departments including the former Social Services Branch, the former New Territories Administration, the former Medical and Health Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the former Industry Department and the former Civil Service Branch. He was Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry from September 1995 to August 1996, Director-General of Industry from September 1996 to June 2000, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology from July 2000 to June 2002, and Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Information Technology and Broadcasting) (later renamed as Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology) and then Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology)) from July 2002 to July 2007. He has served as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport) since July 2007.
Mr Joseph Lai Yee-tak
---------------------
Aged 51. Mr Lai joined the Administrative Service in August 1983 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2009.
Mr Lai has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Home Affairs Branch, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the Lands Department, the former Finance Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Economic Services Branch, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, and the former Education and Manpower Bureau. He was Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry from May 2001 to March 2003, Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from March 2003 to December 2006, and Director-General of Trade and Industry from January 2007 to August 2009. He has served as Commissioner for Transport since August 2009.
Ends/Thursday, May 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN
