Commissioner of Insurance Benjamin Tang will succeed Dominic Chan as Director of Audit from December 1.

Mr Tang takes up the post as Mr Chan goes on pre-retirement leave. Meanwhile, Mr Tang will be replaced by Deputy Director of the Chief Executive's Office Richard Yuen.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa hailed the new commissioner's service record. "Mr Tang has served in different bureaux and departments during his career in the civil service and has well-proven leadership and good management skills. I am certain he is capable of leading the Audit Commission in its provision of independent, professional and quality audit services to help the Government enhance public sector efficiency and performance."

Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong said: "We are confident that as the new Commissioner of Insurance, he will lead his office in playing an effective role as both a prudential regulator as well as a market enabler, facilitating the healthy development of the insurance industry."

Aged 51, Mr Tang joined the Government in October 1974 and is currently Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1. He has served in the London Office, the former Transport Branch, the former City & New Territories Administration, the ICAC, and the Office of Unofficial Members of the Executive & Legislative Councils.

He was Deputy Director of the former Regional Services Department from December 1992 to November 1995, Deputy Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture & Sport from November 1995 to February 1997, Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment & Lands from February 1997 to March 1998, and the former Government Printer from March 1998 to January 2000.

He has been Commissioner of Insurance since January 2000. On taking up the appointment as Director of Audit, Mr Tang will leave the Administrative Service.

Richard Yuen, aged 47, joined the Government in August 1980 and is currently Administrative Officer Staff Grade B1. He has served in the former Security Branch, the former City & New Territories Administration, the former Finance Branch, the former Chief Secretary's Office, and the former Economic Services Branch.

He was Deputy Secretary for Economic Services from October 1996 to August 1999, Private Secretary to the Chief Executive from August 1999 to October 2002, and Deputy Director in the Chief Executive's Office from March 2003 to October 2003.