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The head of the Government Flying Service is to retire early after 11 years at the controls, the administration confirmed yesterday.
Captain Brian Butt Yiu-ming, the first Chinese head of the service, would begin pre-retirement leave two years early, at the age of 53, in March, the spokesman said. An announcement on who would take over as controller would be made later.
Captain Butt, in a statement issued by the service's chief operations officer, said he was leaving to pursue personal interests.
An insider said the service's 200 staff were shocked when Captain Butt told them last month about his early retirement, which has not been officially announced.
Speaking for Captain Butt, chief operations officer Michael Chan Chi-pui said: 'The organisation is stable and his own personal circumstances have got to the point where it was time to go.
'He will pursue his interests in travel and sport.'
Trevor Marshall, the service's chief training and standards officer, said Captain Butt had decided to step down because of the time he had spent in the role.
'He's been doing the job for 11 years and GFS has got to the point as a unit where there is a sustainable succession plan in place,' Mr Marshall said.
Captain Butt has been with the GFS, and its predecessor the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force,  for more than 20 years.
'He was a very good leader and he'll be missed. But I'm confident that we will be able to take it in our stride and continue to run the unit as we do,' Mr Marshall said.
James To Kun-sun,  of the Legislative Council security panel, said it was unusual the government had not announced Captain Butt's resignation nor who would take over.



Flying service boss set to depart