Transport chief quits, fuelling rumour mill
Commissioner for Transport Robert Footman will step down next month, fuelling speculation that his sudden exit is linked to the controversy over the handling of traffic jams nearly three weeks ago.
A government statement issued late yesterday said he would be replaced by Alan Wong Chi-kong from June 18. Mr Wong, 49, was former government chief information officer.
Mr Footman, 52, head of the Transport Department for six years, is expected to take some time off after passing on his duties to Mr Wong. The Civil Service Bureau has not yet assigned him a new post.
Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping said he had confidence in Mr Wong taking up the post, but stopped short of singing the praises of Mr Footman.
Pauline Ling Lo Po-lin, press secretary for transport minister Sarah Liao Sau-tung, played down Mr Footman's departure, saying it was normal practice in the civil service to move officials to other posts.
Mrs Ling said people should not relate his departure to the traffic congestion that kept motorists and commuters stuck in chaos for several hours during a storm on May 9.
'Mr Footman has served in the transport industry for six years,' she said.
'We thank him for that. The transport trade is very complicated ... During this time he led the Transport Department by upgrading the service and balancing the trade's and public's needs.'
Mr Footman was one of several officials who sat with Dr Liao when she publicly apologised for the traffic jams. A taskforce is investigating the government's handling of the congestion.
Lau Kong-wah, chairman of the Legislative Council's transport panel, said Mr Footman's departure happened 'quite suddenly' and conclusions might be drawn about its timing.
'If the government does not give an explanation, the average person will think he has been made the scapegoat,' Mr Lau said.
Legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said recent events might have had a little to do with Mr Footman's departure, but it was time for new blood.
