Government Announces Senior Appointments in Civil Service and Other Departments for 2026

Government announces senior appointments

The Government announced today (January 13) the following senior appointments:

(a) Ms Shirley Lam Shuet-lai, Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service on January 19, 2026, to succeed Mr Clement Leung Cheuk-man who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day;

(b) Mr Patrick Li Pak-chuen, Permanent Secretary for Security, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs on January 19, 2026;

(c) Miss Amy Yuen Wai-yin, Deputy Director, Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office), will take up the post of Director of Administration and Development of the Department of Justice on February 9, 2026, to succeed Ms Jessie Wong Hok-ling who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave;

(d) Miss Pamela Lam Nga-man, Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), will take up the post of Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on February 9, 2026, vice Ms Maisie Chan Kit-ling; and

(e) Dr Cheung Tsz-chun, Assistant Government Chemist, will take up the post of Government Chemist on February 5, 2026, to succeed Dr Lee Wai-on who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day.

Commenting on the appointments of Ms Lam, Mr Li, Ms Yuen and Miss Lam, 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 posts."

Commenting on the appointment of Dr Cheung, Mrs Yeung said, "Dr Cheung possesses profound professional knowledge and experience and has proven leadership and management skills. I am confident that he will be able to lead the Government Laboratory to meet the challenges ahead."

Turning to the retirement of three 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, "As Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Leung spearheaded a number of reforms to strengthen civil service management, including, most notably, the promulgation of the refined Civil Service Code to clearly spell out core values and standards of conduct that civil servants must uphold, the implementation of the civil service mobilisation mechanism to enhance emergency response capabilities, the introduction of the Heads of Department Accountability System to strengthen supervisory accountability, and the amendment of the Public Service (Administration) Order to improve disciplinary mechanisms. With exemplary leadership and strategic vision, he saw to the fair and sound administration of appointment, management and training policies, thereby ensuring that the civil service continued to meet the needs and expectations of society with efficiency, integrity and professionalism."

Turning to Ms Wong, Mrs Yeung said, "During Ms Wong's tenure as Director of Administration and Development of the Department of Justice, she played a pivotal role in orchestrating the smooth operation of the department, thereby ensuring its effective, efficient and equitable administration of justice. She also spearheaded the conversion of the Old Wan Chai Police Station into the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, the inauguration of which underpinned Hong Kong's status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region."

On Dr Lee, Mrs Yeung said, "Dr Lee has served with professionalism and commitment in the civil service throughout the years. As Government Chemist, Dr Lee has led the Laboratory in helping various government departments handle important incidents and has made sustained efforts to provide our community with quality analytical, forensic, and advisory services."

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

Mr Clement Leung Cheuk-man

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Mr Leung joined the Administrative Service in July 1987 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2020. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Chief Secretary's Office, the Post Office, the former Government House, the former Security Branch, the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office, the former Education and Manpower Bureau, the Trade and Industry Department, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, as well as the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. He was Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA from February 2014 to June 2018, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Creative Industries) from June 2018 to June 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service since July 2022.

Ms Jessie Wong Hok-ling

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Ms Wong joined the Government in July 1988 as an Executive Officer. She later joined the Administrative Service in October 1992 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2024. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the former Home Affairs Branch, the former Regional Services Department, the Security Bureau, the former Environment and Food Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, and the Education Bureau. She was Co-ordinator (Special Duties) in the Financial Secretary's Office (FSO) from October 2019 to November 2020, Head, Budget and Tax Policy Unit of the FSO from December 2020 to August 2022, and served as Director of Administration and Development of the Department of Justice from August 2022 to January 2026.

Dr Lee Wai-on

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Dr Lee joined the Government as Chemist in October1988. He was promoted to Chief Chemist in March 2013 and to Assistant Government Chemist in August 2016. He has been Government Chemist since May2022.

Ms Shirley Lam Shuet-lai

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Ms Lam joined the Administrative Service in August 1990 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2024. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Transport Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Regional Services Department, the former Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, the former Transport Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, the former Food and Health Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau and the Department of Marine. She was Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union from October 2015 to August 2019, Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office from September 2019 to June 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs since July 2022.

Mr Patrick Li Pak-chuen

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Mr Li joined the Administrative Service in August 1990 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A1 in April 2024. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Civil Service Branch, the Department of Health, the Security Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau, the former Education Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Chief Executive's Office, the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service, as well as the Home Affairs Department. He was Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs from July 2017 to February 2021, Director of Broadcasting from March 2021 to June 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Security since July 2022.

Miss Amy Yuen Wai-yin

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Miss Yuen joined the Administrative Service in August 1992 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2024. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Health and Welfare Branch, the Housing Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, the former Finance Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau and the Development Bureau. She was Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Water Policy) from August 2011 to November 2016, Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health) (later renamed as Deputy Secretary for Health) from November 2016 to July 2022, and has been serving as Deputy Director, Beijing Office since August 2022.

Miss Pamela Lam Nga-man

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Miss Lam joined the Administrative Service in July 1995 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2025. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Civil Service Bureau, the former Recreation and Culture Branch, the Department of Health, the former Environment and Food Bureau, the Security Bureau, the former Economic Development and Labour Bureau, the former Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Beijing Office, the Innovation and Technology Commission, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu. She was Deputy Director, Beijing Office from June 2018 to August 2022, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics from August 2022 to May 2023, and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) since September 2023.

Dr Cheung Tsz-chun

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Dr Cheung joined the Government as Chemist in June 1998. He was promoted to Chief Chemist in May 2023 and to Assistant Government Chemist in April 2025.

Dr Cheung Tsz-chun, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Miss Pamela Lam Nga-man, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Patrick Li Pak-chuen, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Miss Amy Yuen Wai-yin, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ms Shirley Lam Shuet-lai, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dr Lee Wai-on, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ms Jessie Wong Hok-ling, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Clement Leung Cheuk-man, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection holds meeting in Hong Kong

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government Ms Zhang Hua, leading the officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the delegation of the Shenzhen Municipal Government respectively, held the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection meeting in Hong Kong today (June 2).

The meeting reviewed and endorsed the Working Group's 2025 Work Report and noted the implementation progress of the Agreement on Further Deepening Hong Kong-Shenzhen Co-operation in Ecological and Environmental Protection (the Co-operation Agreement). Both sides also exchanged views in depth on the preparation of the five-year plan for ecological and environmental protection in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, regional environmental quality assurance during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meetings, the joint development of the Shenzhen–Hong Kong ecological corridor, and cross-boundary biodiversity conservation. The two sides reported on their work progress and shared experiences on the above aspects.

The HKSAR Government is actively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and will complete the formulation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan within this year. The HKSAR Government will continue to fully support the country in achieving its "dual carbon" goals, accelerate green transformation, and strive to reduce carbon emissions by half from the 2005 level by 2035, with a view to achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. At the meeting, the HKSAR Government reported progress in green transport, environmental quality and ecological conservation, including the promotion of a Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-boundary electric cargo vehicle pilot scheme, preparations for nominating Port Shelter in Sai Kung for inclusion in the national "Beautiful Bays" list, and the deepening of co-operation on the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain–Hong Kong Robin's Nest ecological corridor. The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will organise a seminar on the Ecological and Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China in late June, inviting Mainland experts to attend. Representatives from relevant Shenzhen departments are also invited to attend the seminar as well as the Eco Expo to be held in Hong Kong in October during the meeting.

To ensure good environmental quality during the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting to be held in Hong Kong in October this year and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in Shenzhen in November, Hong Kong and Shenzhen will continue to strengthen regional joint prevention and control efforts, including air quality assurance, water quality monitoring and emergency response capability.

Both sides are also actively advancing the development of the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain–Hong Kong Robin's Nest ecological corridor. In 2025, the two sides jointly completed a biodiversity survey of the ecological corridor area, strengthened ecological data sharing and connectivity, and will further enhance conservation effectiveness in the future to promote ecological integration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Mr Tse thanked the various departments of the Shenzhen Municipal Government for their full support. He expressed the hope that both sides would continue to work hard under the framework of the Joint Working Group, anchor on the ten major co-operation tasks set out in the Co-operation Agreement signed in 2024, and ensure all tasks are advanced with high quality and full coverage, so as to jointly build a Beautiful China and work towards carbon neutrality.

The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung; the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui; and representatives from the EEB, the EPD and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also attended the meeting.

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection holds meeting in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection holds meeting in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases