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The Government announced today (July 21) that Mr Thomas Chow Tat-ming, Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), will assume the post of Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service on September 14, 2015. He will succeed Mr Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, who will retire after more than 35 years of service.
Commenting on the appointment, Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, said, "Mr Chow 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 and rise to the challenges ahead."
On the retirement of Mr Raymond Wong, Mr Tang said, "Mr Wong has rendered over 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community and has made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong in various spheres."
"During his tenure as Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Wong made significant contributions in various new and improved civil service policies. For instance, he saw to the successful implementation of paternity leave in the civil service. Furthermore, in the face of the demographic challenges arising from an ageing population and a shrinking labour force, Mr Wong led his team to map out the way forward and implementation framework to extend the service of civil servants after their retirement. With his exemplary leadership, he also ensured that the Civil Service Pay Adjustment Mechanism continued to operate well to provide sufficient remuneration to attract talents of suitable caliber and to motivate staff to devote their best for the public good. We wish him a happy retirement."
Brief biographical notes on the two officers are set out below:
Mr Raymond Wong Hung-chiu
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Aged 57, Mr Wong joined the Administrative Service in August 1980 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in September 2005.
Mr Wong has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Social Welfare Department, the former Home Affairs Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Office of Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils, the former Legal Department, the former Works Branch, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the former Security Branch, the former Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office of the Chief Secretary's Office, the Security Bureau, the Customs and Excise Department and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. He was Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower from November 2006 to June 2007, and Permanent Secretary for Education from July 2007 to December 2010. Mr Wong has been Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service since December 2010.
Mr Thomas Chow Tat-ming
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Aged 55, Mr Chow joined the Administrative Service in December 1984 and rose to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2011.
Mr Chow has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the Social Welfare Department, the former General Duties Branch, the former Monetary Affairs Branch, the former Government House, the Financial Secretary's Office, the former Transport Bureau and the former Environment and Food Bureau. He was Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Transport) from July 2004 to August 2006, and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services from August 2006 to August 2009. Mr Chow has been Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) since August 2009.
Ends/Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:01
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