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The Government announced today (June 28) the following senior appointments:
(a) Mr Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, Director of Information Services, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) on July 6, 2016, succeeding Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai who will retire after over 35 years of service; and
(b) Mr Joe Wong Chi-cho, Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries), will take up the post of Director of Information Services on July 6, 2016.
Commenting on these appointments, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung, said, "The two appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism and rise to the challenges ahead."
On the retirement of Mr Yuen, Mr Cheung said, "Mr Yuen has rendered over 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community of Hong Kong.
"During his tenure as Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Yuen has made considerable strides in advancing and improving public healthcare services to meet emerging patient needs. He played a pivotal role in overseeing implementation of the Electronic Health Record Sharing System and spearheaded industry consultation on the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme. Mr Yuen also mapped out a blueprint for forward planning by securing an injection of $200 billion to realise the 10-year hospital development plan. We wish him a long and happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes of the three officers are set out below:
Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai
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Aged 60, Mr Yuen joined the Administrative Service in August 1980 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2013.
Mr Yuen has occupied key management positions in the former Security Branch, the 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, the Chief Executive's Office and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. He was Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Food and Environmental Hygiene) from January to June 2007 and Commissioner of Customs and Excise from July 2007 to August 2011, and has been Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) since September 2011.
Mr Patrick Nip Tak-kuen
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Aged 51, Mr Nip joined the Administrative Service in August 1986 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2011.
The career of Mr Nip has spanned a wide range of policy bureaux and departments including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Deputy Chief Secretary's Office, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Trade Department, the Chief Executive's Office, the former Health and Welfare Bureau, the Beijing Office and the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau. He served as Director of Social Welfare from August 2009 to June 2013 and Director (Special Duties), Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office from June to December 2013 before taking up the present position as Director of Information Services since February 2014.
Mr Joe Wong Chi-cho
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Aged 51, Mr Wong joined the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2013.
Mr Wong possesses balanced and extensive exposure in the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, the former Economic Services Branch, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington DC and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau. He was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) from April 2006 to June 2009 and Deputy Director of Housing (Corporate Services) from June 2009 to October 2011, and assumed duty as Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) (later retitled as Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries)) in October 2011.
Ends/Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:03
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