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The Chief Executive's Office announced today (December 20) that the Appointment Committee has appointed an Under Secretary and two Political Assistants of the fourth term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs has recommended Mr Lau Kong-wah to be his Under Secretary and his appointment is approved by the Appointment Committee. Mr Lau will assume office tomorrow (December 21).
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Development and the Secretary for the Environment have recommended Mr Henry Ho Kin-chung and Ms Michelle Au Wing-tsz to be their respective Political Assistants. The Appointment Committee has also approved the recommendations. Mr Ho and Ms Au will take up office on December 27 and January 14 respectively.
The Government will make further announcements on the Under Secretaries and Political Assistants for the remaining bureaux in due course.
Following are the biographical notes on the new appointees:
Mr Lau Kong-wah
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Aged 55, Mr Lau holds a BPhil degree in sociology from the University of Exeter and an MPhil degree in public and social administration from the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong. He has recently resigned from the positions of Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and District Councillor in Sha Tin. Mr Lau's political career began in 1985 when he was elected to be a District Councillor in Sha Tin. He was re-elected until 2003 and was elected to be a Sha Tin District Councillor again in 2011, altogether serving the district for nearly 20 years.
Mr Lau has served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1997 to 2012, and as a member of the Executive Council from 2008 to 2012, gaining much political experience.
Mr Henry Ho Kin-chung
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Aged 40, Mr Ho holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Assessment and Evaluation from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Before joining the Government, Mr Ho has worked as a Senior Manager at the Communications and Public Affairs Office of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for five years, responsible for the communications and public engagement programmes of the campus development projects. Prior to joining HKU, he worked at the Central Policy Unit and Friends of the Earth, a green group. He has actively participated in NGO work, as the Director of the 30S Group and the Director of the Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage. He has written newspaper articles on issues related to conservation and development on a regular basis.
On public service, he has served as a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board, a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit, and a co-opted member of the Strategy Sub-committee of the Council for Sustainable Development.
Ms Michelle Au Wing-tsz
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Aged 36, Ms Au holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Government and International Studies and a Master of Sciences degree in Environmental and Public Health Management from the Hong Kong Baptist University.
Ms Au worked at Asia Television Limited where she was responsible for information programmes. From 2005 to 2012, she worked for Friends of the Earth (HK), where her areas of focus centred on waste policy and education.
Ends/Thursday, December 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00
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