Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io said Wednesday that Telecommunications Regulation Bureau (DSRT) chief Lawrence Tou Veng Keong’s sudden transfer to the post of advisor to his office was a “normal” change in personnel.
He made the remarks to reporters after hosting the opening ceremony of a conference on the development of the logistic sectors in the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan at City of Dreams in Cotai.
Asked by reporters as to why the government decided to transfer Tou to his office, Lau said the arrangement was made to prepare for the future development of the city’s telecommunications sector.
The DSRT is part of Lau’s portfolio.
DSRT Deputy Director Hoi Chi Leong will be acting director of the bureau for the next six months, according to Lau.
“This arrangement reflects that the government has thought deeply about how to better strengthen its current team for the future development of the telecommunication sector,” Lau was quoted by The Macau Post Daily as saying.
The announcement published in Wednesdayy’s Official Gazette (BO) stated that Tou had been transferred to Lau’s office, where he took up his advisory position on Tuesday. According to the announcement, Tou’s new post will last to December 19 next year.
According to civil service payment regulations, a bureau director’s salary points amount to around 1,000 to 1,100 per month while the salary points of an advisor to a policy secretary office amount to around 900 per month. Currently each salary point is worth 70 patacas.
According to previous official announcements, the government re-appointed Tou as DSRT director in May 15 for one year.
Telecommunications including the television, mobile phone and Internet sectors come under Lau’s portfolio.
Asked by reporters as to why he made the announcement at such a sensitive time as Tou was widely considered to be responsible for planning the future development of the city’s troubled TV market, Lau insisted that now was the “proper” timing to have such as an arrangement which he believed to be beneficial for the future development of the local telecommunications sector.
“Tou Veng Keong will continue working in the team for the telecommunications sector just in a different post. I believe that any advice he gives will be useful to assist in dealing with all matters related to this sector,” Lau said.(macaunews)
