ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming today (Thursday) announced the appointment of Ms Rebecca Li Bo-lan as Director of Investigation of the Operations Department.

Ms Li, 47, currently Assistant Director of Operations, will succeed incumbent director Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang with effect from June 1, 2010 on the latter's retirement.

Ms Li commenced her career in the ICAC in 1984 as an assistant investigator. She was promoted through the ranks to Principal Investigator in 2002 and became Assistant Director in 2004.

Ms Li has substantial investigative and administrative experience. Under her leadership, a number of prominent corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors were successfully investigated in recent years.

In her current post, she is responsible for mapping out the Commission's training strategies and leads various expert groups including financial investigation, information technology and computer forensics.

Ms Li received the Hong Kong ICAC Medal for Distinguished Service in 2007 for her outstanding leadership and exemplary service.

The ICAC Commissioner, together with the Head of Operations, Mr Daniel Li Ming-chak welcomed Ms Li to the senior directorate of the Commission.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner thanked Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang for his 36 years of dedicated service to the ICAC and his distinguished leadership as a senior directorate officer since 1996.

In the early years, Mr Lee participated in the investigation of a number of prominent cases involving law enforcement officers. With the rise of corruption complaints against the private sector in the 1980s, he helped inject new technology and added professionalism to the investigative teams. Under his leadership, the Commission detected a series of sophisticated, graft-facilitated commercial cases involving listed companies in recent years.

"A distinguished graft fighter who carries with him the flair of the first generation, Mr Lee has served with immense commitment throughout the years. During his career, he has worked with 14 Commissioners, himself an integral part of the achievement of the ICAC.

"Colleagues of the Commission and I wish him a long, happy and well earned retirement," said the Commissioner.