The Hong Kong government on Monday announced four senior civil service appointments across its communications, food safety, tourism and Beijing liaison departments, with the changes set to take effect between mid-June and early July.
Maisie Chan Kit-ling, who previously served as Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will become Director-General of Communications on July 2. She succeeds Chaucer Leung Chung-yin, who is retiring after leading the Office of the Communications Authority, which regulates the city's telecommunications and broadcasting industries.
Albert Yuen Yuk-kin, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), will take over as Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on June 16, replacing Donald Ng Man-kit. Yuen's appointment followed an open and internal recruitment exercise conducted by the Environment and Ecology Bureau earlier this year. He previously spent a year as an advisor at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department after leaving the police force.
Ann Chan Wai-yan, currently Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), will become Commissioner for Tourism on June 25. Arsene Yiu Kai-cheuk, Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene), will take up the post of Director of the Hong Kong SAR Government's Beijing Office on June 29, succeeding Rex Chang Wai-yuen, who is retiring.
The Civil Service Bureau confirmed the appointments, with Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung describing the four appointees as experienced administrative officers with proven leadership and management capabilities, according to a government statement.
Two senior officials are retiring after careers spanning more than three decades. Rex Chang, who served as Director of the Beijing Office since 2022, oversaw the office and its liaison units in Liaoning and Tianjin. He previously held roles including Director of Information Services and Commissioner for Belt and Road. Chaucer Leung spent 29 years in government, including seven years as Director-General of Communications, where he oversaw telecommunications and broadcasting regulation and the implementation of advanced communications infrastructure policies.
Yuen's appointment represents a transition from law enforcement to public health administration. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) from 2021 to 2023, one of the top ranks in the Hong Kong Police Force. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department manages food safety inspections, environmental hygiene enforcement and public market operations across the city.
The tourism portfolio, which Chan will inherit, comes as Hong Kong continues efforts to rebuild its visitor economy. The city recorded approximately 45 million visitor arrivals in 2025, approaching pre-pandemic levels. The Beijing Office, which Yiu will lead, serves as the Hong Kong SAR government's primary liaison channel with mainland Chinese authorities, coordinating on cross-border policy matters and promoting Hong Kong's interests under the one country, two systems framework.
Sources: HKSAR Government
