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The Government announced today (March 20) that Mr Stanley Ying Yiu-hong, Secretary-General of the Competition Commission, will assume the post of Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) and Director of Housing on April 2, 2014. He will succeed Mr Duncan Pescod, who will retire after 32 years of service with the Government.
Commenting on the appointment, Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, said, "Mr Ying is a seasoned Administrative Officer with rich 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 Pescod, Mr Tang said, "Mr Pescod 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 (Housing) and Director of Housing, Mr Pescod made commendable efforts in formulating and reviewing the Government's policies and strategies relating to the development of public and private housing. He chaired the Steering Committee on the Regulation of the Sale of First-Hand Residential Properties by Legislation, and saw to the enactment of the relevant legislation and the establishment of the Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority. He also chaired the Long Term Housing Strategy Working Group (LTHS) and was instrumental in completing the LTHS Review and its public consultation. He steered the exercise through to put in place demand-side management measures to curb the overheated property market. With his distinguished administrative and management skills, he directed and managed the Housing Department in all areas of its work. We sincerely wish him a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on the two officers are set out below:
Mr Duncan Pescod
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Aged 54, Mr Pescod joined the Administrative Service in August 1981 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2010.
Mr Pescod has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Home Affairs Branch, the former Security Branch, the Lands Department, the former Urban Services Department, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Civil Service Branch (later renamed Civil Service Bureau), the Tourism Commission, and the Efficiency Unit. He was Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities from March 2006 to August 2008, and Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) from August 2008 to April 2010. Mr Pescod has been Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) and Director of Housing since May 2010.
Mr Stanley Ying Yiu-hong
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Aged 53, Mr Ying joined the Administrative Service in August 1983 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2007.
Mr Ying has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Councils and Administration Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former General Duties Branch, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office, the former Trade Department, the former Education Department, and the former Treasury Bureau (later renamed Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau). He was Permanent Secretary for Security from October 2003 to October 2007, and Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) from November 2007 to July 2012. Mr Ying has been on secondment to the Competition Commission as Secretary-General since June 2013.
Ends/Thursday, March 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:01
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