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The Advisory Committee on Post-office Employment for Former Chief Executives and Politically Appointed Officials received a request for advice from Mr Frederick Ma, former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and former Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, who ceased his government services on July 12.
Mr Ma intended to accept appointment by the University of Hong Kong as Honorary Professor in the School of Economics and Finance. The advisory committee has advised Mr Ma that it has no objection to his taking up the proposed appointment. The appointment takes effect today (October 20).
In considering the case, the advisory committee noted that Mr Ma's previous official responsibilities with the Government were not related to the proposed appointment, that the proposed appointment would be honorary and educational in nature, and that Mr Ma had undertaken that he would not disclose in his lectures given in the capacity as Honorary Professor any confidential information obtained during his public service.
The advisory committee has also considered whether the proposed appointment is likely to constitute a conflict of interest, adversely affect or compromise the Government's performance of its functions, cause reasonable negative perception or enable the prospective employer to gain any unfair advantage over its competitors.
On balance, the advisory committee has advised Mr Ma that it has no objection to his taking up the employment.
Within one year after stepping down from office, former politically appointed officials are required to seek the advice of a committee appointed by the Chief Executive before commencing any employment. The membership of the advisory committee is as follows -
Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee (chairman)
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling
Professor Lee Chack-fan
Dr Norman Leung Nai-pang
Dr Elizabeth S C Shing
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:33
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