The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced Friday that the central government has, on the nomination and recommendation of Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, approved the appointment of Timothy Tong Hin-ming, Deputy Secretary for Security, as Commissioner of Customs and Excise.

Tong will take up the post with effect from Sept. 29, 2003, succeeding Raymond Wong Hung-chiu who took up the post of Commissioner of Independent Commission Against Corruption on August 25, 2003.

At the same time, the government also announced the following senior appointments:

• Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Director of Social Welfare, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands) on November 1, 2003 to replace John Tsang Chun-wah who took up appointment as Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology on August 5, 2003;
• Stanley Ying Yiu-hong, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary for Security on October 13, 2003;
• Paul Tang Kwok-wai, Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, will take up the post of Director of Social Welfare on November 1, 2003, replacing Carrie Lam.

Commenting on the above appointments, Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph W P Wong said: "The appointed officers have amassed rich experience in public administration through various postings in their career in the civil service. I have full confidence in their leadership abilities."

"I am certain that they are capable of leading their team to take forward various initiatives in the development of Hong Kong on various fronts and enhancing public services," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2003)