10 -
New Director of General Grades appointed
The Government today (Tuesday) announced the appointment of Mr Cletus Lau Kwok-hong as the next Director of General Grades in the Civil Service Branch, succeeding Mr Francis Ho.
Mr Lau is currently serving as the Secretary of the Urban Council. He is appointed to the new post on a three-year contract.
Announcing the appointment, a spokesman for the Civil Service Branch said Mr Lau was one of the first directorate officers appointed under a new arrangement to select candidates to fill certain senior directorate posts through in-service competition.
"The selection arrangement is to ensure that the widest possible field of candidates are considered," the spokesman explained.
As Director of General Grades, Mr Lau will be responsible to the Secretary for the Civil Service for the management and development of the Executive, Clerical and Secretarial Grades which comprise about 30,000 officers.
Mr Lau will be succeeded by Miss Pauline Wong as the Secretary for the Urban Council and Mr Francis Ho will become the senior Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry.
Mr Lau joined the Government as an Executive Officer II in 1967 and was promoted to his present rank of Principal Executive Officer in 1990. During his 28 years' service, he has worked in a number of policy branches and departments.
Following is the biographic notes of Mr Lau:
Mr Lau joined the Hong Kong Government as an Executive Officer II in January 1967. He attended an overseas training course in the University of Birmingham, UK, between September 1974 and November 1975.
On return from overseas study, he worked in the then Public Works Department until January 1977 before joining the Independent Commission Against Corruption where he worked for two-and-a-half years.