New Senior Officials Appointed in Hong Kong

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 05, 2003

New Senior Officials Appointed in Hong Kong

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Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa announced yesterday the appointments of Henry Tang Ying-yen as new financial secretary and Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong as secretary for security. He praised both for their leadership skills and rich experience.

The selections end nearly three weeks of speculation after Antony Leung and Regina Ip submitted their resignations on July 16.

A well-known businessman, Tang is also secretary for commerce, industry and technology -- a principal official under the accountability system.

John Tsang Chun-wah, a permanent secretary for planning and lands, will take over his former job.

As Lee assumes his new post, he relinquishes his position as commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption -- a job he took on a little more than a year ago.

Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, the serving Commissioner for Customs and Excise, will become the next head of the anti-graft body.

The State Council, China's cabinet, approved the appointments, nominated by Tung, on Saturday according to the Basic Law, Xinhua reported shortly before the announcement.

Presenting the new officials at a press conference, Tung praised them "as having a good grasp of government operations, excellent leadership skills and a wealth of experience.''

"I am confident that they will help us move towards a more open, progressive and efficient government. I hope they will work for the interests of the people and do their utmost to serve the public,'' he said.

Only tipped as a favourite candidate last week, Tang said Hong Kong is facing unprecedented challenges of economic transition, unemployment, budget deficit and deflation.

Tang said he feels he is shouldering a very important responsibility as financial secretary at a time when citizens have high expectations of the government.

"As financial secretary, my first and foremost task is to improve the Hong Kong economy,'' he told the press conference.

"Although we are facing stern economic hardships, we should not forget our unique strengths and good economic fundamentals,'' he said, adding that the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and the mainland is one of the territory's major strengths.

Tang was repeatedly asked if he would remove 2006-07 as the deadline for returning to a balanced budget. In reply, he said he would handle the deficit problem very carefully.

"We would follow the requirement of the Basic Law that we should strive to achieve a fiscal balance, and to ensure the deficit will not pressure on the stability of the monetary system and the peg with the US dollar,'' he said.

Serving as director of immigration from 1998-2002, Lee worked closely with Regina Ip and was deeply involved in the right of abode cases.

"I will carefully listen to voices of the community and will meet various political parties in the Legislative Council,'' Lee said when asked as to how he would handle the new round of public consultation for the Article 23 legislation.

Like Ambrose Lee, Raymond Wong also worked directly under Regina Ip as deputy security secretary for about three years before being promoted as the customs chief in July 2001.

Wong would not comment openly on the case when asked how he would deal with the incident relating to ex-financial secretary Antony Leung's car purchase.

"We will deal with the matter fairly, impartially and in compliance with the law,'' he said. "But whether there will be a prosecution is for the secretary for justice to decide.''

Speaking about his new post, John Tsang said he would endeavour to improve the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises and attract foreign capital.

He vowed to make use of the market force of the Pearl River Delta area to develop high value-added, innovative and high-tech industries and to enhance Hong Kong's role in the delta.

"As the CEPA plays a very important part, we will work very hard to implement and to broaden the content of the CEPA,'' Tsang said.

Profiles: New Senior Officials Appointed in Hong Kong

Tang Ying-yen--HK's new Financial Secretary

Tang Ying-yen was appointed on Saturday as financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government by the State Council, or the central government of China.

Tang had served as Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since July 2002 to deal with policies in relation to information technology, telecommunications, broadcasting, film services, innovation and technology, external commercial relations, industry and business support, intellectual property protection and inward investment promotion.

Tang has a long record of public service. He has been a member of the Executive Council since 1997. He served as a member of the Legislative Council for seven years from 1991 to 1998.

Tang has also served extensively on various government boards and public bodies, including the Trade Development Council, Town Planning Board, University Grants Committee, Council of the City University of Hong Kong and Services Promotion Strategy Group in the Electronics and Textile industries.

Before joining the government, Tang was a leading industrialistin Hong Kong. He received the Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong in 1989 and was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 1993. He served as chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries between 1995 and 2001.

He was also a Committee Member of the Hong Kong General Chamberof Commerce and a Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. In 2000, he received the Gold Bauhinia Star Award of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Tang was born in Hong Kong in 1952. He holds a Bachelor of ArtsDegree from the University of Michigan. He is married with four children.

Lee Siu-Kwong -- Newly Appointed HKSAR Secretary for Security

China's State Council appointed Saturday Lee Siu-Kwong as secretary for security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

Lee Siu-Kwong, 54, became director of immigration of the first HKSAR government in October 1998 and was appointed as commissionerof the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of the 2ndHKSAR government on June 2002 by the State Council, China's central government.

Lee graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Hong Kong. He also received professional training inBeijing-based Tsinghua (Qinghua) University, London-based Oxford University, and Harvard University of the United States.

As the ICAC commissioner, Lee believed that Hong Kong should better crack down on corruption, improve law enforcement and prevention of crimes, and that the ICAC should strengthen ties with its Chinese mainland and international counterparts in its future work.

Tsang Chun-wah--HK's new secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology

Tsang Chun-wah was appointed Saturday as the new Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)secretary for commerce, industry and technology by the State Council, or China's central government.

Tsang, 52, joined the Hong Kong civil service in November 1982.From 1987 to 1991, he served as the administrative assistant to the financial secretary. He was assistant director-general of trade from 1991 to early 1995 and private secretary to the Hong Kong governor from 1995 to June 1997.

Tsang became director-general of the London Economic and Trade Office from July 1997 to February 1999, commissioner of customs and excise from March 1999 to July 2001 and secretary for planningand lands from July 2001 to June 2002. He was appointed as permanent secretary for housing, planning and lands (planning and lands) on July 1, 2002.

Wong Hung-chiu -- HK's New Commissioner of Independent Commission Against Corruption

Raymond Wong Hung-chiu was appointed by the State Council, China's central government, Saturday as the new commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Wong, 46, joined the Hong Kong civil service in August 1980 androse to his present rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in July 2002. He had served in various bureaus and departments, including the Social Welfare Department, Home Affairs Branch, 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 and the former New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office.

He was commissioner for narcotics in the Security Branch from January to December 1996, served as deputy director of the Handover Ceremony Co-ordination Office of the Chief Secretary's Office from January to July 1997 and was deputy secretary for security from August 1997 to July 2001. Wong was appointed to the position of commissioner of customs and excise in July 2001.

As the commissioner of customs and excise, Wong committed himself to the fight against smuggling, piracy and other illegal activities. He attaches importance to strengthening cooperation with the customs on the Chinese mainland, and increasing the efficiency of passing customs to meet the demand of personnel exchange and logistics distribution between the two sides.

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