Rita Lau
Encyclopedia
Rita Lau Ng Wai Lan or Rita Ng Wai Lan, GBS, JP
(born 1953 in Hong Kong
) is a Hong Kong Government senior civil servant. She was appointed Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
in July 2008 after her predecessor Frederick Ma
resigned due to health reasons. Coincidentally, ill-health also forced her resignation from this position on 8 April 2011, following an operation to remove a colon tumour.
Mrs Lau joined as civil servant in the Administrative Service in 1976. She has served in various bureaux
and departments
in the government. She was Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (1998), Director of Urban Services (1999), Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (2000), Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
(Environment
and Transport
) (2002) and Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
(Planning
and Lands) (2004), and Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology
) (2007).
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(born 1953 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) is a Hong Kong Government senior civil servant. She was appointed Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development , head of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, is responsible for promoting the commerce and economic development in Hong Kong...
in July 2008 after her predecessor Frederick Ma
Frederick Ma
Frederick Ma Si-hang , is the chairman of a China Strategic Group . As a former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he was a popular figure with the public and with legislators of all parties...
resigned due to health reasons. Coincidentally, ill-health also forced her resignation from this position on 8 April 2011, following an operation to remove a colon tumour.
Mrs Lau joined as civil servant in the Administrative Service in 1976. She has served in various bureaux
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
and departments
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
in the government. She was Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting (1998), Director of Urban Services (1999), Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (2000), Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works , who heads the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, is responsible for public works projects, transport related issues and environmental protection...
(Environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
and Transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
) (2002) and Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
The Hong Kong Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands was the head of the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, which was responsible for urban planning policy, public housing and the management and selling of public lands...
(Planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
and Lands) (2004), and Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
) (2007).