Definition
Ko Wing-man (Chinese: 高永文; born 12 June 1968) is a Hong Kong civil servant and politician who served as Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from July 2017 to June 2022. He is a career member of the Hong Kong civil service and has held senior positions in various government departments.
Overview
Ko entered the Hong Kong civil service in 1991 as an Administrative Officer. Over the following decades he worked in the Administrative Services and Information Branch, the Environment Bureau, the Food and Health Bureau, and the Development Bureau, among others. Prior to his appointment as Secretary for Food and Health, he was Director of the Food and Health Bureau (2015–2017). As Secretary, Ko oversaw public health policy, medical services, food safety, and disease control, including the government’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic. After leaving the post in June 2022, he was appointed as a non‑executive director of several public‑sector enterprises.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Ko Wing-man” follows the Cantonese romanisation of a traditional Chinese name. “Ko” (高) is a common Cantonese surname meaning “high” or “tall.” “Wing-man” (永文) combines the characters 永 (yǒng) meaning “eternal” or “perpetual” and 文 (wén) meaning “culture,” “literature,” or “civilisation.” The name does not carry any specific occupational meaning beyond its linguistic components.
Characteristics
- Professional Background: Long‑standing civil service career with expertise in administration, health policy, and environmental regulation.
- Policy Focus: Emphasis on strengthening public health infrastructure, improving food safety standards, and advancing disease prevention measures. During his tenure, Ko advocated for the expansion of hospital capacity, the implementation of the “Hospital Authority Reform” proposals, and tighter regulation of food imports.
- Public Communication: Frequently acted as the government spokesperson on health matters, delivering regular briefings on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccination programmes.
- Leadership Style: Described in official reports as methodical and data‑driven, with a preference for collaborative decision‑making across departments and with professional bodies.
Related Topics
- Government of Hong Kong
- Food and Health Bureau (Hong Kong)
- Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health
- COVID‑19 pandemic response in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong civil service structure
- Public health policy in Hong Kong
All information presented is based on publicly available government records and reputable news sources.