Samuel T. Mok, Chief Financial Officer of the US Department of Labor, visited Chicago's Chinatown on December 7, 2002. Mr. Mok was the keynote speaker earlier at the 4th National Conference of Chinese Schools held at Sheraton, O'Hare. The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce hosted a press conference at the King Wah Restaurant at 2:30 p.m., attended by some 50 members of the Chamber and community. Mr. Mok was welcomed by Chris Wong, 25th Ward Republican Committeeman in Chicago. Mr. C.W. Chen represented the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce in praising Mr. Mok's distinguished career of public service.
Mr. Mok spoke in pride of being the only Cantonese speaker in the Bush administration, and the only department where both the Secretary and Deputy are Chinese. He further cited the 89 Asian cabinet, sub-cabinet and Presidential appointees in the Bush administration, more than all the Asian cabinet members in the history of the US. He was very happy to visit Chinatown and would like to get to know the various organizations that could benefit from the many programs of the Labor Department. He cited the many accomplishments and concerns of Secretary Elaine Chao for the Asian and Chinese communities.
Mr. Mok's experience in the federal government began over 30 years ago. Initially, Mr. Mok was commissioned as an Officer of the United States Army, where he served from 1971-1976. He served in both the Adjutant General Corps and in Military Intelligence. In 1986, Mr. Mok began his service as Foreign Service Officer in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the State Department. Later, he moved to the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he became a member of the Career Senior Executive Service. He served at Treasury from 1986-1992, becoming the first career Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer under then Secretary James Baker. Mr. Mok has also participated in local government, serving Montgomery County, Maryland, as both the Advisor to the County Executive on Ethnic Affairs from 1992-2000 and as Liquor Board Commissioner from 1996-2001. His most recent career achievement was his nomination by President George W. Bush and subsequent unanimous confirmation as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the United States Department of Labor on January 25, 2002 by the U.S. Senate. As CFO, Mr. Mok serves as the senior financial advisor to the Secretary of Labor, Congress, Office of Management and Budget, and other stakeholders in the financial affairs of the Department. (Chris Wong)