Government Announces Key Senior Appointments in Environment and Cultural Services Departments

Senior appointments

The Government announced today (November 29) the following senior appointments:

(a) Mr Eddie Cheung Kwok-choi, Director of Broadcasting, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) on January 2, 2025. He will succeed Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and

(b) Ms Manda Chan Wing-man, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), will take up the post of Director of Leisure and Cultural Services on December 4, 2024. She will succeed Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

Commenting on the appointment of Mr Cheung and Ms Chan, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "The appointees are seasoned Administrative Officers with proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism in their new capacity."

On the retirement of the two senior officials, Mrs Yeung thanked them for each rendering over 30 years of loyal and dedicated service to the community and making significant contributions to the Government. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement.

Mrs Yeung said, "During Miss Tse's tenure as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), she capably led the Environment Protection Department and the team to formulate and implement a range of environmental policies, delivering results particularly on the improvement of air and water quality, waste reduction and management, nature conservation, tackling climate change and promoting energy efficiency/conservation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she personally steered the roll-out of a unique territory-wide sewage surveillance programme for detecting virus loads in the population, which provided important data for informing the formulation of anti-epidemic measures, thereby contributing to our ultimate success in combating the epidemic."

Turning to Mr Liu, Mrs Yeung said, "During Mr Liu's tenure as Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, he played an instrumental role in ensuring the strategic planning, steady provision and sound management of sports and cultural venues. He also strived to provide quality leisure and cultural programmes to the public, making sterling contributions to reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an events capital and East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges."

Brief biographical notes of the four officers are set out below:

Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa

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Miss Tse joined the Government in June 1987. She served in the Executive Officer and Labour Officer Grades before joining the Administrative Service in June 1988, rising to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2023. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the former Civil Service Branch, the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, the former Economic Services Branch, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, the former Finance Bureau, the former Economic Development and Labour Bureau, the former Transport and Housing Bureau and the former Food and Health Bureau. She was Director of Home Affairs from April 2016 to January 2022, Permanent Secretary for the Environment (later renamed as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment))/Director of Environmental Protection from January to December 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) since January 2023.

Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong

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Mr Liu joined the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2021. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Municipal Services Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Education and Manpower Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office (later renamed as the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office), the Civil Service Bureau, the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the former Home Affairs Bureau, and the former Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (later renamed as the Office of the Communications Authority). He served as Deputy Secretary for the Environment from March 2014 to January 2019, Government Property Administrator from January 2019 to October 2019, and became Director of Leisure and Culture Services from October 2019.

Mr Eddie Cheung Kwok-choi

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Mr Cheung joined the Administrative Service in October 1993 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2024. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Financial Services Branch, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, the former Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau and the Home Affairs Department. He was Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) from January 2013 to August 2019, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union from August 2019 to October 2022, and has been serving as Director of Broadcasting since October 2022.

Ms Manda Chan Wing-man

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Ms Chan joined the Administrative Service in September 1995 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2024. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Home Affairs Department, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau, the former Trade and Industry Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Security Bureau, the Chief Executive's Office, and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. She was Commissioner for Narcotics of the Security Bureau from January 2016 to November 2019, Commissioner for Rehabilitation of the Labour and Welfare Bureau from November 2019 to October 2022, and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) since October 2022.

Senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

ExCo Non-official Members congratulate successful launch of manned Shenzhou-23 spacecraft

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (May 24) warmly congratulate the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceship. They extend their highest respect to all crew members, including Dr Lai Ka-ying, the first payload expert from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This mission is the first manned spaceflight during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the first time a Hong Kong expert has participated, which is a truly momentous occasion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent with this invaluable opportunity to take part in the country's aerospace endeavours. Dr Lai has successfully undergone the rigorous selection and training process to become one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts, and China's fourth female astronaut to reach space, contributing Hong Kong's strength to the national aerospace endeavours. She has exemplified the Lion Rock spirit of rising to challenges with resilience and perseverance. Her courage and determination are truly admirable, and all Hong Kong citizens are immensely inspired and proud of her. The understanding and support of her family are also essential for her to participate in this mission with resolution. I am deeply grateful for their support and commitment.

"The HKSAR Government is actively developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and supporting promising research projects through various funding schemes. As an example, the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO) camera, developed under a project led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and funded by the Government's Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology, has successfully arrived at China's Tiangong Space Station, becoming Hong Kong's first scientific payload aboard the station. This fully demonstrates Hong Kong's innovation and technology edge and talent advantages."

Non-official Members of the Executive Council expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the country for its high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements, as well as its profound emphasis, care and support for Hong Kong's scientific and technological development. They firmly believe that the HKSAR Government will seize this historic moment to nurture more outstanding innovation and technology talent for the country and Hong Kong, and better integrate into and serve the country's overall development.

Source: AI-found images