Government Announces Senior Appointments Ahead of Upcoming Retirements in Key Positions

2025-03-07 16:00 Last Updated At：16:30

Government announces senior appointments

The Government announced today (March 7) the following senior appointments:

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Government announces senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Government announces senior appointments Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

(a) Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai, Principal Government Town Planner, will take up the post of Director of Planning on March 18, 2025, to succeed Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day;

(b) Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun, Chief Pilot, will take up the post of Controller, Government Flying Service on March 13, 2025, to succeed Captain West Wu Wai-hung who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and

(c) Miss Lillian Chow, Deputy Principal Solicitor, will take up the post of Official Receiver on March 31, 2025, to succeed Ms Phyllis McKenna who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day.

Commenting on the appointments of Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow have proven leadership and management skills, as well as profound professional knowledge. I am confident that they will be able to lead the respective departments to meet the challenges ahead."

On the retirement of the three senior officials, Mrs Yeung thanked them for their loyal and dedicated service to the community. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement.

Mrs Yeung said, "Mr Chung has served with diligence and commitment in the civil service throughout the past 35 years. As Director of Planning, he has made significant contributions to increasing land supply and mapping out the territorial spatial development strategy for Hong Kong and formulated sustainable land use strategies and plans in the Northern Metropolis and other new areas. Mr Chung has also played a key role in assisting the work of the Town Planning Board.

"Captain Wu has served with devotion and commitment in the service for almost 37 years. As Controller, Government Flying Service, he has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and professional excellence of the department to provide emergency search and rescue operations as well as aviation support for the community and government departments."

Mrs Yeung said, "Ms McKenna has served with professionalism and commitment in the civil service for 36 years. As Official Receiver, she has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and service quality of the department. She has also enhanced the image of Hong Kong by fostering international exchanges and co-operation on insolvency matters."

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

Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit

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Mr Chung joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in November 1989 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in August 2010, to Government Town Planner in June 2017 and to Principal Government Town Planner in May 2019 before taking up the position as Director of Planning in January 2021.

Captain West Wu Wai-hung

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Captain Wu joined the then Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (now the Government Flying Service) as Observer/Crewman in March 1988. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in August 1990. He was promoted to Pilot II in September 1992, to Pilot I in September 1995, to Senior Pilot in November 2000 and to Chief Pilot in October 2008. He has been the Controller, Government Flying Service since September 2019.

Ms Phyllis McKenna

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Ms McKenna joined the Government as Solicitor in November 1988 before being promoted to Senior Solicitor in March 1992, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2006 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in October 2012. She has been the Official Receiver since February 2017.

Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai

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Mr Yip joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in August 1994 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in September 2015, to Government Town Planner in June 2020 and to Principal Government Town Planner in September 2022. He is currently the Deputy Director of Planning/Territorial.

Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun

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Captain Liu joined the Customs and Excise Department as Customs Officer in July 2005. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in the Government Flying Service in October 2005. He was promoted to Pilot II in April 2008, to Pilot I in June 2013, to Senior Pilot in September 2019 and to Chief Pilot in September 2023.

Miss Lillian Chow

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Miss Chow joined the Government as Solicitor in March 2007. She was promoted to Senior Solicitor in November 2010, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2017 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in July 2020.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Government Announces Senior Appointments Ahead of Upcoming Retirements in Key Positions

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