Senior appointment (with photos)

     The Government announced today (April 25) that Mr Kevin Choi, Private Secretary to the Chief Executive, will take up the post of Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office on May 14, 2024, when Mr Daniel Cheng Chung-wai commences his pre-retirement leave on the same day.
 
     Commenting on the appointment of Mr Choi, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Mr Choi is a seasoned Administrative Officer with proven leadership and management skills. I have every confidence that he will shoulder the heavy responsibilities with professionalism in his new capacity."
 
     On the retirement of Mr Cheng who will proceed on pre-retirement leave, Mrs Yeung said, "Mr Cheng has rendered 35 years of loyal and dedicated service. During his tenure as Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office, Mr Cheng provided wise counsel for the Chief Executive in the preparation for his first two Policy Addresses and other key policymaking processes. He also played an instrumental role in ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the Chief Executive's Office with his extensive experience in public administration, governance and protocol matters over the years. I wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement."
 
     Brief biographical notes of the two officers are set out below:
 
Mr Daniel Cheng Chung-wai
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     Mr Cheng joined the Administrative Service in July 1989 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade A in April 2022. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Finance Branch, the former City and New Territories Administration, the former Health and Welfare Branch, the former Trade and Industry Branch, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, the former Planning and Lands Bureau (later reorganised as Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau), the former Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, the former Education and Manpower Bureau (later renamed as Education Bureau), the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, and the former Food and Health Bureau. He was Director of Administration from July 2020 to May 2022, Secretary-General, Office of the Chief Executive-elect from May 2022 to June 2022, and has been serving as Permanent Secretary, Chief Executive's Office since July 1, 2022.
 
Mr Kevin Choi
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     Mr Choi joined the Administrative Service in October 1997 and rose to the rank of Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1 in April 2022. He has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau (later renamed as Planning and Lands Bureau), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the former Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (later reorganised as Commerce and Economic Development Bureau), the Chief Executive's Office, the Development Bureau, and the Civil Aviation Department. He served as Deputy Secretary in the former Transport and Housing Bureau from September 2017 to December 2020, Deputy Secretary in the former Food and Health Bureau (later reorganised as Health Bureau) from December 2020 to February 2023, and has been serving as Private Secretary to the Chief Executive since February 2023.