Chao-Dong and I were both economists at Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, and worked together often closely over the last ten years. I would like to say a few words to you about his outstanding professional career. In 2001, HM Customs & Excise were very fortunate to succeed in recruiting Chao-Dong as an Economic Adviser, with his extensive academic and economic consulting experience on top of his Ph.D. After two years he moved to the Inland Revenue, which later merged with Customs, where he had been previously, to form HM Revenue & Customs, where he has been working since in the head office by Parliament Square in Westminster. During these years, Chao-Dong has applied his expertise across many different areas of the country’s tax system, including the taxes which people pay, the taxes which businesses pay, the taxes on goods and services, energy and transport, the tax system for charities, and he was even a specialist in the taxes on alcohol and tobacco. The common purpose of his work in all these areas was to advise, as an economist, on how the tax system could be made better, more efficient, less burdensome, and fairer. You will see, I’m sure, that this was very important work, and essential for ministers’ decisions, many of which we have seen as announcements by Chancellors of the Exchequer on Budget Days. Chao-Dong was an exceptionally gifted economist, who developed models and wrote papers, many of them published, which will be used for many years to come. He has therefore extended the field of knowledge, leaving a real legacy of analysis for the benefit of his colleagues. However, Chao-Dong will be remembered equally for his personal qualities as for his professional contribution. As his family will know, he was hard working – absolutely dedicated to his work. He was exceptionally kind and helpful to colleagues, even when busy himself he would always offer to help out when he saw them in need. Over the years he trained up many new young economists, who have moved on to various places but I know they look back with gratitude on the skill and understanding Chao-Dong showed them at the start of their careers, and hold him in much affection. We are all greatly missing Chao-Dong’s friendly presence and powerful intellect, which will always be remembered by us at Revenue & Customs. Thank you for listening to me.