Chief Executive Donald Tsang appointed the first batch of nine political assistants of the SAR government yesterday.

Tsang praised the new appointees for their passion and commitment, and expressed his confidence that they would be able to assist the bureau secretaries and under secretaries to better serve Hong Kong.

The political assistants are appointed on non-civil service terms for the term ending June 30, 2012.

Frankie Yip Kan-chuen is currently the public affairs manager of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Joining the club last year after serving as an editor and editorial writer in several major newspapers since 1992, Yip will become the political assistant to the Financial Secretary.

Zandra Mok Yee-tuen, a senior manager of the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre and also a freelancer covering social issues, will work in the Labour and Welfare Bureau.

To be the assistant to Secretary for the Environment is Linda Choy Siu-min, who joined the Hong Kong Disneyland Management Limited last year as director of government relations after serving twice at the South China Morning Post.

Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, vice chairman of the Young Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and an investment services manager at Hang Seng Bank, will be the assistant to Secretary for Home Affairs.

Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District of the DAB Raymond Cheung Man-to will serve the Development Bureau.

Liberal Party member Young Chit-on, a senior manager at a logistics company, will serve the Secretary for Education.

Katherine Ng Kit-shuen, director of the legal department in Merrill Lynch, Hong Kong, will become the assistant to Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Victor Lo Yik-kee, former Assistant Commissioner of Police, will become the assistant to the Secretary for Security.

Paul Chan Chi-yuen, founding member of the Roundtable group and a senior research assistant at the City University of Hong Kong, will assist the Secretary for Food and Health. The 28-year-old is the youngest political assistant.

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

(HK Edition 05/23/2008 page1)