Hong Kong Hospital Authority's (HA) Director of Professional Services and Human Resources Ko Wing-man announced here Friday he will resign from his post after his contract ends in December.

Chief Executive of HA, William Ho said he was saddened by the departure of such a highly capable and diligent deputy. He deeply appreciated Ko's efforts in deputizing for him during the difficult days of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak last year.

Ko had wanted to resign after the SARS outbreak, but Ho persuaded him to defer his decision.

Ko said that despite leaving the public healthcare system after more than two decades of service, he would continue his support tothe development and enhancement of public healthcare services in Hong Kong.

In mid-September, head of Housing Department's Corporate and Community Relations sub-division Poon Kai-tik will take up Ko's public affairs responsibilities.

Besides, current Deputy Director of Human Resources of HA, David Rossiter will head up the HA Human Resources division.

After graduated from School of Medicine of Hong Kong University in 1981, Ko devoted himself into Hong Kong's public healthcare services and started to perform the administrative work in HA since its establishment in 1991.

Source: Xinhua