1598 CIN New provincial announced
austraLasia 1598

China Province's new Provincial announced today

ROME: 29th June 2006 --  On this Feast of Sts Peter and Paul, a public holiday at the Vatican (and in fact throughout Rome), The Rector Major and his Council have appointed Fr Simon Lam Chung Wai, currently the Vice Provincial of China Province, as the new Provincial to take over from Fr Savio Hon on 1st October this year. 
    Fr Simon Lam, Hong Kong born (1951) has carried a range of responsibilities over the years, particularly at Province level, having spent a short period as Provincial Economer before being appointed as Vice Provincial.  He has been Delegate for the Salesian Family in China, the Ecclesiastical Assistant for the 'Asia 2' region for the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), and Delegate for the Past Pupils.  He spent six years with various roles at St. Louis School in Hong Kong: Principal, Rector of the community, and now holds the role of Salesian Supervisor for that school.
    In addition to his fluency in two major Chinese dialects, Cantonese and Mandarin, Fr Simon speaks Italian (learned from his studies in Rome leading up to priesthood) and of course English which was Hong Kong's second language during the years of British Administration.
    Anyone associated with the recent China Province Centenary celebrations would have already appreciated Fr Simon's organisational skills as he was the coordinator for that massive effort.  While he is known and much appreciated for his organisational skills, his own confreres know him especially as a man with many interpersonal skills and a deep interest in the confreres.
    As a comment aside - the Chinese character 'Lam' looks decidedly like a tree - in fact two trees!  Do two trees make a wood (read Bosco)?  Perhaps they do - the character for 'forest' leaves no doubt - three or more!

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