Chau, former Secretary for Commerce and Industry of Hong Kong, will not receive any remuneration for his part-time service with the new appointment by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) of China.

Chau will proceed on pre-retirement leave on October 1, 2002, said the government spokesman.

"During his service in the Hong Kong government, Mr. Chau has been responsible for multilateral and international trade matters for many years, and has a wealth of experience in matters relating to the WTO (World Trade Organization)," said Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, who recommended Chau to be the special consultant.

"I am very pleased with Mr. Chau's appointment as Special Consultant to MOFTEC (the Ministry of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation), since he could make the best use of his expert knowledge and contribute to the participation of the mainland in WTO matters," Tung added.

Chau, aged 59, has served in a number of policy bureaus and departments since he joined the government in July 1967. He was appointed a Principal Official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in July 1997 and took up the position of Secretary for Trade and Industry, later renamed Secretary for Commerce and Industry, from March 1998 to end of June 2002.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2002)