Government Announces Key Senior Appointments Ahead of Upcoming Retirements

Government announces senior appointments

The Government announced today (June 15) the following senior appointments:

(a) Ms Maisie Chan Kit-ling, ex-Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will take up the post of Director-General of Communications on July 2, 2026, to succeed Mr Chaucer Leung Chung-yin on retirement;

(b) Mr Albert Yuen Yuk-kin will take up the appointment as Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on June 16, 2026, vice Mr Donald Ng Man-kit, following an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise;

(c) Ms Ann Chan Wai-yan, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), will take up the post of Commissioner for Tourism on June 25, 2026; and

(d) Mr Arsene Yiu Kai-cheuk, Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene), will take up the post of Director, Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office) on June 29, 2026, to succeed Mr Rex Chang Wai-yuen on retirement.

Regarding the appointments of Ms Maisie Chan, Ms Ann Chan and Mr Arsene Yiu, 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 Mr Yuen, Mrs Yeung said, "Mr Yuen has extensive experience in public administration and law enforcement, and possesses outstanding leadership and management capabilities. I am confident that under his leadership, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will continue with its reforms to provide public services, perform regulatory functions and meet future challenges with innovation and excellence."

Turning to 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.

On the retirement of Mr Chang, Mrs Yeung said, "During his tenure as Director, Beijing Office, Mr Chang oversaw the smooth operation of the Beijing Office as well as the two liaison units in Liaoning and Tianjin. He led major efforts to promote Hong Kong's unique strengths under 'one country, two systems' and co-operation with major provinces and municipalities, thereby contributing to our integration into the national development strategy."

Turning to Mr Leung, Mrs Yeung said, "During his tenure as Director-General of Communications, he provided strong leadership in ensuring the robust regulation and development of telecommunications and broadcasting industries in Hong Kong. He spearheaded a whole host of policy initiatives to promote the development of advanced communications technologies and infrastructure, ensuring that world-class communications services were in place to meet the challenges of the information age and underpin Hong Kong's status as a leading telecommunications and broadcasting hub in the region and beyond."

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

Mr Rex Chang Wai-yuen

---------------------------

Mr Chang joined the Administrative Service in July 1989 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 City and New Territories Administration, the former Security Branch, the former Finance Branch, the former Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, the Trade and Industry Department, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, the Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office, and the Education Bureau. He was Director of Information Services from August 2019 to December 2021, Commissioner for Belt and Road from December 2021 to November 2022, and served as Director, Beijing Office from December 2022 to March 2026.

Mr Chaucer Leung Chung-yin

--------------------------------

Mr Leung joined the Government as Telecommunications Engineer in April 1997. He was promoted to Chief Telecommunications Engineer in July 2009, to Assistant Director of Telecommunications in November 2012, and to Deputy Director-General of Telecommunications in May 2016. He served as the Director-General of Communications cum Director of Film, Newspaper and Article Administration from July 2019 to April 2026.

Ms Maisie Chan Kit-ling

---------------------------

Ms Chan joined the Administrative Service in July 1994 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2025. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, the Home Affairs Department, the former Trade Department, the former Finance Bureau (later renamed as Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau), the former Education and Manpower Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Independent Expert Panel. She was Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene) from January 2015 to July 2018, Deputy Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs from July 2018 to July 2023, and Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from July 2023 to January 2026.

Mr Albert Yuen Yuk-kin

--------------------------

Mr Yuen joined the Government in 1986 and had served in various positions in the Police Force. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) between August 2021 and August 2023, and was appointed as Advisor in the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for one year in November 2023. In February 2026, the Environment and Ecology Bureau conducted an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise for the post of Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. Following the established selection process, Mr Yuen has been identified as the most suitable candidate. The Government appointed Mr Yuen as the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene under civil service appointment terms, with effect from June 16.

Ms Ann Chan Wai-yan

-------------------------

Ms Chan joined the Administrative Service in June 1997 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2025. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Financial Secretary's Office, the Housing Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the former Constitutional Affairs Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau, the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office, the former Home Affairs Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the former Transport and Housing Bureau. She was Coordinator (Policy Address) of the former Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office from July to November 2020, Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service from December 2020 to July 2024, and has been serving as Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) since August 2024.

Mr Arsene Yiu Kai-cheuk

---------------------------

Mr Yiu joined the Administrative Service in September 2001 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B in April 2024. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Housing Bureau, the Security Bureau, the former Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Office of the Chief Executive-elect and the Chief Executive's Office. He was Principal Assistant Secretary for Food and Health (Food) from February to April 2022, Assistant Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Market Special Duties) from April to August 2022, and has been serving as Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene) since August 2022.

Mr Arsene Yiu Kai-cheuk, Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene), will take up the post of Director, Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing on June 29, 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ms Ann Chan Wai-yan, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), will take up the post of Commissioner for Tourism on June 25, 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Albert Yuen Yuk-kin will take up the appointment as Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on June 16, 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ms Maisie Chan Kit-ling, ex-Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will take up the post of Director-General of Communications on July 2, 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Chaucer Leung Chung-yin served as Director-General of Communications before his retirement. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Rex Chang Wai-yuen served as Director, Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing before his retirement. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD issues warning letter to permitted dog-friendly food premises for persistent non-compliance

The measure allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises has been implemented since July 9. A dedicated team from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been conducting inspections to all the permitted food premises over past few days to assist operators in complying with the relevant requirements. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (July 14) that the department has taken enforcement action against a permitted food premises in Kowloon City District for persistent non-compliance, and issued a warning letter to the licensee concerned, requiring that immediate rectification measures be taken.

The spokesman stressed that, while the department regards the first month of implementation as an adaptation period for the measure, during which the principle of "advice before enforcement" is adopted, it does not mean a relaxation of regulatory oversight. Should serious cases of non-compliance or situations affecting environmental hygiene or food safety be detected, the FEHD will definitely take decisive enforcement action to ensure public safety and fairness of the policy.

During a recent inspection of a permitted Chinese restaurant in Kowloon City, the dedicated team discovered that the establishment was in breach of regulation by serving food being cooked or reheated at the dining table. A verbal advice and a verbal warning were subsequently issued to the person-in-charge of the food premises on July 11 and 12 respectively. Officers of the dedicated conducted another inspection to the food premises concerned yesterday (July 13) and found it in breach of the regulation again. A warning letter was thus issued to the licensee, requiring proper rectification of the non-compliance.

The spokesman reiterated that, the FEHD will take decisive enforcement action if permitted food premises commit serious non-compliance, including serving food being cooked or heated over an open flame on dining tables, allowing fighting dogs or known dangerous dogs to enter the food premises, or allowing dogs to enter the food rooms.

Moreover, the FEHD has been proactively inspecting food premises without valid permission (non-permitted food premises) since July 9. Immediate verbal advice will be given if dogs are found to be allowed into these food premises. The FEHD is gathering further information and intelligence, and will commence strict enforcement actions from this week onwards should there be instances of persistent non-compliance despite repeated warnings. The spokesman reminded that both food premises operators and dog owners have the responsibility to comply with the relevant regulations. Any food premises that allows the entry of dogs without a valid permit commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum fine of $10,000, three months' imprisonment, and an additional daily fine of $300. Members of the public who bring dogs into non-permitted food premises also commit an offence and facing the same legal penalty.

According to the licensing conditions of permitted food premises, cooking or heating food on dining table with appliances such as open-tlame or electric stoves is strictly prohibited at all times. Candles or electric coasters are restricted to keeping beverages warm only and must not be used for heating food. If a licensee receives three warning letters within a 12-month period for breaching the relevant additional licensing conditions, the FEHD will consider cancelling the restaurant's "Permission for Presence of Dogs on Food Premises". Furthermore, within 12 months from the date of cancellation, no application for the same permission submitted by the same licensee, their representative, business partner, or business proprietor for the same premises will be entertained.

As of July 13, the 90 dedicated officers of the FEHD have conducted about 4 700 inspections to permitted food premises across various districts, and over 400 inspections to other food premises not permitted for the entry of dogs. The dedicated teams will continue to step up inspection and publicity efforts to assist permitted food premises in adapting to the new arrangements. Should any issues be identified, dedicated officers will provide immediate guidance and make every effort to assist food premises in complying with the relevant requirements, so as to ensure the smooth implementation of the new measure.

The FEHD reminds all persons-in-charge and frontline staff of permitted food premises once again that they must fulfill the licensing conditions and legal requirements, and to supervise and remind customers with dogs, so as to safeguard diners' safety and public hygiene.

Source: AI-found images