Principal government engineer Michael Fong Hok-shing was among some 20 people that were spotted having a boat party to celebrate his promotion to the post of director back in January, just as the Hong Kong entered the fifth and worst wave of Covid outbreaks.

Their boat party soon drew fire from the public and another principal government engineer Lai Chuek-ho was promoted as the acting director instead, taking office starting from March 1.

According to the government's brief biographical note, Fong joined the government as assistant engineer in September 1991.

He was promoted to chief engineer in August 2012, to government engineer in July 2016, and to principal government engineer in June 2019.

Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said Fong has profound professional knowledge and leadership skills and added he is confident that Fong would lead the Civil Engineering and Development Department to meet the challenges ahead.