Alex Vong: Coastal waters are priority

Chief Executive Chui Sai On administers an oath taken by the Director-General of the Customs Service, Alex Vong (left)

Alex Vong was inaugurated yesterday as the new Customs Service (SA) Director-General at the government headquarters. The MSAR’s top officials and representatives from Beijing – including Li Gang, director of the Central Liaison Office in the MSAR – attended the ceremony.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Vong said that he and his team would together be able to face the challenge of heading the SA.
Vong, 49, said the MSAR’s administration of 85 square kilometers of sea east and south of Macau means that more resources are needed in terms of workforce and equipment. He added that his priority is now to oversee all works related to the coastal waters, which are now under local jurisdiction. Vong downplayed questions of whether his performance would be hindered by the fact that he is not a member of the local security forces.
The new SA head was born in Macau and has served in leading positions at the IACM and the Macau Sport Development Board. He joined the public administration in 1994.
The Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, was appointed as SA’s acting director at the end of October, following the death of former director Lai Man Wa in a case that was classified by the authorities as a suicide.
The Director-General of the SA is one of the principal officials of the MSAR and, according to the Basic Law, is appointed by the Chief Executive.