Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang Yam-kuen appointed the first batch of eight under secretaries at the rank of bureau deputy directors yesterday.

The new under secretaries are drawn from the finance, legal, medical, academic and media professions.

"The appointments mark a key milestone in Hong Kong's development of its accountability system," said Tsang. "I am impressed by their commitment and passion to serve Hong Kong. They will certainly bolster the strength and capacity of our team of political appointees."

The under secretaries are appointed on non-civil service terms which will end on June 30, 2012.

Gregory So Kam-leung is appointed as the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

So is the current vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and is the only appointee with a political background.

"It's my honor to be appointed," So said, adding he has to familiarize himself with the operation of the government and policy issues.

He also hopes to strengthen the communication between the government and citizens.

Appointed as the Under Secretary for the Environment, Kitty Poon said she was glad to have the opportunity to serve the society. She has been concerned about environmental issues.

The assistant professor at the Department of Applied Social Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University added she has to discuss with the university about her job.

Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, an Administrative Officer, will take up the post of Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

Tam joined the Administrative Service in 1987 as the press secretary to former Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung. At present Tam is the Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs.

The current Director of Racecourse Business at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Kenneth Chen Wai-on, will be the Under Secretary for Education.

Gabriel Matthew Leung, professor in Translational Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong will assist the Secretary for Food and Health.

Yau Shing-mu, winner of the Best Hong Kong Newspaper Reporter (General News) award and the executive chief editor of Hong Kong Economic Times, is appointed as the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing.

The remaining two appointees come from the financial sector.

Executive Director (External) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Julia Leung Fung-yee will be the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

The youngest appointee, Florence Hui Hiu-fai, will work in the Home Affairs Bureau. She is currently the head of business planning and development (North East Asia) at the Standard Chartered Bank.

The government will make further announcements on the remaining posts of under secretaries and political assistants in due course.

(HK Edition 05/21/2008 page1)