Au Ka-wang, Deputy Director of Immigration, takes up his new appointment as Director of Immigration on July 2, 2020. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

BEIJING - China's State Council on Thursday announced that Au Ka-wang was appointed director of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

The decision was made in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law of the People's Republic of China, and based on the nomination by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.  

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In a statement released on Thursday commenting on the appointment of Au, Lam said Au has served in the Immigration Department for more than 30 years and has extensive experience in departmental operations. 

“He possesses proven leadership and management skills. I am confident that he will lead the Immigration Department in meeting the challenges ahead,” Lam said.

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Au joined the Immigration Department as an assistant immigration officer in November 1988 and was promoted to deputy director of immigration in 2019.

He was awarded the Hong Kong Immigration Service Long Service Medal in 2007, with the first and second clasps in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

Rise from the ranks

2019 Deputy Director of Immigration 

2018 Assistant Director of Immigration 

2015 Principal Immigration Officer

2014 Assistant Principal Immigration Officer 

2009 Chief Immigration Officer

2003 Senior Immigration Officer

1992 Immigration Officer

1988 Joined HK Immigration Department as Assistant Immigration Officer 

With Xinhua inputs