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The Government announced today (June 13) that Miss Cathy Chu Man-ling, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), will assume the post of Director, Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Beijing on July 18, 2012. She will succeed Mr Thomas Tso Man-tai, who will retire after 37 years of service with the Government.
Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, said, "Miss Chu is a seasoned Administrative Officer with rich experience in public administration and proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that she will continue to serve Hong Kong with professionalism and dedication in her new capacity."
On the retirement of Mr Tso, Miss Yue said, "Mr Tso 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 Director, Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing, Mr Tso established himself as a distinguished representative of the HKSAR Government, serving as an important bridge between Hong Kong and the Mainland. He spearheaded numerous initiatives to enhance the Mainland's understanding of Hong Kong and to promote closer economic and trade relations between the two places. He has also made sterling contributions in formulating the HKSAR's strategies in complementing the National 12th Five-Year Plan. We sincerely wish him a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on Mr Tso and Miss Chu are set out below:
Mr Thomas Tso Man-tai
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Aged 59. Mr Tso joined the Administrative Service in July 1975 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2011.
Mr Tso has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Home Affairs Department, the former Home Affairs and Information Branch, the former New Territories Administration, the former Civil Service Branch, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the former Regional Services Department and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore. He was Deputy Head of the Central Policy Unit from December 1998 to March 2001, Deputy Secretary for Planning and Lands (later renamed Deputy Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands)) from March 2001 to May 2005, and Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs from September 2005 to April 2006. He has been Director, Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing since April 2006.
Miss Cathy Chu Man-ling
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Aged 47. Miss Chu joined the Government in August 1987 as an Executive Officer. She joined the Administrative Service in June 1988 and rose to her present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2009.
Miss Chu has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Trade Department, the former Security Branch (later renamed Security Bureau) and the Information Services Department. She was Deputy Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works (Transport) (later renamed Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport)) from November 2004 to June 2008, and Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs (West Kowloon Cultural District) from July 2008 to July 2010. She has been Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) since October 2010.
Ends/Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
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