Dr. Sarah Liao is the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Dr. Liao earned her Bachelor's Degree (Chemistry and Botany), Master's Degree (Inorganic Chemistry) and Doctorate Degree (Environmental/Occupational Health) from The University of Hong Kong. She was also awarded a Master’s Degree (Analytical Chemistry) by the University of Birmingham, U.K. Dr. Liao is a fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Royal Society of Chemistry, U.K.

Dr. Liao's career in environmental protection began in 1976 at The University of Hong Kong when she supervised the first Government-funded annual air-monitoring project. In 1988 Dr. Liao founded an environmental consulting company which was regularly consulted by the Government, institutions, architects and developers on a wide range of environmental issues. In 1997, it merged with an international engineering consulting firm and her management role was extended to the Mainland and Taiwan. In 2001, Dr. Liao served as the environmental expert/presenter for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee.

Dr. Liao served as a Council member of the Environmental Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers from 1988 to 1992. She steered the triennial regional conference "POLMET" from 1985 to 1997 and was Deputy Chairman of the World Congress on Urban Growth and the Environment in 1994. In 2000, Dr. Liao chaired the annual conference "International Association for Impact Assessment" which drew 500 delegates from 80 countries.

Dr. Liao participated actively in local NGO environmental groups in the past three decades and played a pioneering role in building environmental awareness in the local community. She has been technical adviser to the Conservancy Association since 1991 and served on the Board of Governors of Friends of the Earth until 1998. Dr. Liao has also been active in community service.