Appointments to Standing Committee on Company Law Reform
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    The Financial Secretary has appointed four new members to the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform (SCCLR) for a term of one year starting tomorrow (February 1).

     They are the Professional Consultant of the School of Law in The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Mrs Anne Carver; the Managing Director of Kin Man Garment Factory Limited and the Ex-president of the Hong Kong Chamber of Small and Medium Business Limited, Mr Felix Chan, MH; the Executive Director of K Wah International Holdings Limited and the Managing Director of Stanford Hotels International Limited, Ms Paddy Lui, JP; and the Head Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited and the Executive Director of Hutchison International Limited, Ms Edith Shih.

     At the same time, the incumbent Chairman, Mr Benjamin Yu, SC, JP and eight other non-official members have been re-appointed for a term of two years starting tomorrow (February 1).
 
     The re-appointed members are Ms Teresa Ko, Mr Godfrey Lam, Mr John Poon, Mr David Stannard, Ms Vanessa Stott, Mr Carlson Tong, JP, Mr Paul Winkelmann and Mr Patrick Wong.

     In addition, Mr Michael Scales has been re-appointed as a member for one year from the same date.

     A Government spokesman said today (January 31), "With the professional background and expertise of its members, the SCCLR will continue to provide valuable advice to the Government, particularly on matters relating to the rewrite of the Companies Ordinance."

     "This is essential to maintain Hong Kong's position as an international business and financial centre which has to be underpinned by company law of an international standard and responsive to the needs of the business community."

     "We are also grateful to Mr William Tam, the outgoing member of SCCLR, for his invaluable contributions to the work of the committee over the past six years," the spokesman said.

     The SCCLR was set up in 1984 to advise the Financial Secretary on amendments to the Companies Ordinance and other related legislation as and when experience showed them to be necessary.

     Members of the SCCLR include representatives of relevant Government departments and regulators, as well as personalities from the relevant sectors or professions such as accountancy, legal and company secretarial.

Ends/Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:31

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