Stephen Lam new CS

September 30, 2011

The Central Government has appointed Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam as the new Chief Secretary, replacing Henry Tang who has resigned.
 
Chief Executive's Office Director Raymond Tam will be the new Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs, replaced by Under Secretary for Food & Health Professor Gabriel Leung.
 
Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced the appointments today, saying Mr Lam has extensive experience in public service, serving as a Principal Official for almost a decade and tackling serious issues, such as securing a timetable leading to the full implementation of universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
 
“Stephen has achieved many breakthroughs in our co-operation with the Mainland. These include having Hong Kong’s unique role firmly established in the National 12th Five-Year Plan, and fostering momentous growth in our ties with Guangdong,” Mr Tsang said.
 
“Stephen is a team player, and a man of resolve and perseverance. He is blessed with exceptional competence in planning and supervision. He can often accomplish difficult missions under pressure. In the next few months, he will help me lead the policy bureaus to implement what I am going to put into my next Policy Address. He will support me in preparing for a smooth handover between the current term and next term of government. We shall ensure a seamless transition of government next year.”
 
As Chief Secretary, Mr Lam will chair major boards and committees, including the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Community Care Fund.
 
On Mr Tam, Mr Tsang said he served in the Administrative Service for years before he became Under-Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs, and then became the Chief Executive’s Office Director.
 
“Raymond is competent and has outstanding inter-personal skills. As Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, he has been most proficient in helping me manage my daily work over the past two years. At the same time, he has strengthened the administration’s positive interaction with major political parties and various sectors. He is a consensus builder,” Mr Tsang said.
 
“Raymond will oversee the several elections, which are just around the corner. These electoral exercises will pave the way for full-scale universal suffrage in Hong Kong. He will also gear up Hong Kong’s collaboration with the Mainland in a whole range of areas. These two missions are of far-reaching significance for Hong Kong’s long-term development. Given Raymond’s extensive experience in politics and public administration, I am confident he is the best person for the job.”
 
On Prof Leung’s appointment, Mr Tsang said he has won high acclaim for his performance as Under Secretary for Food & Health.
 
“Over the past two years, he has shown considerable political talent, capable of building a good rapport with stakeholders from both within and outside the Government. I am sure he will rise to the new challenge.”