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The Chief Executive's Office announced today (November 27) that the Appointment Committee has appointed two Under Secretaries of the fourth term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has recommended Mr James Henry Lau Jr to be his Under Secretary, to succeed Ms Julia Leung Fung-yee upon her resignation, and his recommendation has been approved by the Appointment Committee. Mr Lau will assume office on January 1, 2014 and Ms Leung will leave the post on the same day.
The Secretary for Development has recommended Mr Eric Ma Siu-cheung to be his Under Secretary, and his recommendation has been approved by the Appointment Committee. Mr Ma will assume office on January 6, 2014.
Following are biographical notes on the new appointees:
Mr James Henry Lau Jr
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Aged 63. Mr Lau holds a Bachelor of Mathematics (Computer Science and Statistics) Honours Degree and a Master of Mathematics Degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
Mr Lau joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer (AO) in 1979 and was promoted through the ranks to AO Staff Grade C until he resigned in 1993 to join the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Between 1993 and 2004 he was the Head and Executive Director of various divisions of the HKMA.
In 2004, Mr Lau was seconded to the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation as Chief Executive Officer until he retired in 2012.
Mr Eric Ma Siu-cheung
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Aged 50, Mr Ma is an engineer by profession with over 25 years of experience in the construction industry and has held senior positions in major consulting firms. During these years he has led teams of professionals in the planning and implementation of major development projects in Hong Kong. He is a fellow member of a number of professional bodies including the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportations, and the Institution of Structural Engineers, United Kingdom. He also served as Hong Kong Branch Chairman of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.
Mr Ma joined Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd in 2001 and was promoted to the post of Managing Director in 2007, responsible for major development projects in Hong Kong. In 2010 he was tasked by AECOM with expanding its overseas business in Asia, ending up as Executive Vice President for Civil and Infrastructure Business in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Mr Ma holds a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) degree from the University of Hong Kong and a Master Degree of Engineering Science in Transportation from Monash University, Australia.
Ends/Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:38
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