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The acting Refugee Co-ordinator, Mr Gordon Leung, and the Assistant Director of Immigration (Vietnamese Refugees), Mr Choy Ping-tai, will also be present.

The spokesman stressed that all VMs in Hong Kong had no other option but to return to Vietnam. He urged the VMs still in the territory to join the Voluntary Repatriation Programme and return home with the financial assistance provided as soon as possible.

End

New Director of Drainage Services appointed

The Government announced today (Thursday) the appointment of Mr J Collier to succeed Mr Ng Yee-yum as the Director of Drainage Services with effect from August 19.

Mr Ng will proceed on pre-retirement leave on August 10.

Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr W K Lam, said: "I am confident that Mr Collier will lead the department to face the challenges ahead."

Mr Lam also thanked Mr Ng for his dedicated and valuable service to the civil service in the past 36 years.

Followings are biographical notes of Mr Collier and Mr Ng:

Mr J Collier, JP

Aged 54. Mr Collier joined the Hong Kong civil service as an Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in July 1974.

He was promoted to Government Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in October 1989 and to Deputy Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services in February 1993. He has served as the Deputy Secretary for Works since September 1994.