HONG KONG: The central government has appointed a new customs chief in Macau following the suicide of his predecessor, who was found slumped in a public toilet with her throat and wrists slashed.
Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on announced the appointment yesterday. The former management committee president of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Alex Vong Iao Lek, takes on the job of director-general of Macau Customs.
Vong replaces the city’s first ever woman customs chief, Lai Man Wa, who killed herself in late October.
Lai suffered slash wounds, swallowed sleeping pills and had a plastic bag over her head when she was found.
Vong, 49, has served in several leading positions related to sports administration since he joined the public administration in 1994.
Vong said the customs service had an excellent and professional team that maintained order in society.
He also foresaw challenges ahead. “I take on the challenges related to the management of Macau’s newly demarcated 85 sq km of maritime waters” Vong said, referring to Beijing’s decision in December to expand the city’s maritime boundary.
Vong also mentioned his team would face higher public expectations as the city geared up to meet the challenges of Beijing’s belt and road initiative.
Vong’s background has raised concerns about whether he can lead the department as he is not from the customs service.
Macau’s secretary for security, Wong Sio Chak, said Vong’s nomination was made after thorough consideration of his capabilities and he was confident that Vong would be competent.
“All public bodies are part of the same team, and all have the same duty to carry out the government’s policies,” Wong said.
The Macau authorities classified the death of mother-of-two Lai, 56, as suicide by asphyxiation.
Her death came two weeks after an employee of Macau’s Commission Against Corruption killed himself by jumping from the Dynasty Plaza building in the heart of the former Portuguese enclave.
