NEW Secretary for Transport

NEW Secretary for Transport, Haider Barma (pictured right), was sorry his predecessor Yeung Kai-yin had resigned, but said people should respect the decision.

Mr Barma, 49, is of Indian extraction. But he described himself as a ''complete local''.

''I was born in Hong Kong, educated in Hong Kong and finished my university education in Hong Kong,'' said the current Director of Urban Services.

He did not think his appointment could be linked with the recent row over the localisation policy.

''I think the Government's appointments are extremely fair with considerations given to the officials' own backgrounds and experiences,'' he said.