The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government announced Tuesday that the State Council has, on the nomination and recommendation of Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, made the following appointments of Principal Officials:

Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai, Director of Administration, will become Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting in place of Kwong Ki-chi, who will be leaving the civil service shortly.

Stephen Ip Shu-kwan, Secretary for Economic Services, will become Secretary for Financial Services in place of Rafael Hui Si- yan, who will be leaving the civil service. Sandra Lee Suk-yee, Director-General, London, will succeed Stephen Ip as Secretary for Economic Services. W K Lam, Secretary for the Civil Service, will succeed David Lan Hong-tsung as Secretary for Home Affairs. Lan will retire at the end of May 2000.

Joseph Wong Wing-ping, Secretary for Education and Manpower, will take over from W K Lam as Secretary for the Civil Service. Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, Director of Education, will succeed Joseph Wong as Secretary for Education and Manpower. Commenting on the above appointments of Principal Officials, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa expressed confidence in the newly- appointed officials.

He said: "Among the officials appointed on this occasion, three are serving principal officials who have effectively led their policy bureaux over the years. They also have previous working experience in their respective new jobs. "I firmly believe that, with their rich experience and distinguished abilities, they will continue to promote the work of the bureaus under their charge," he added.