The Chief Executive has appointed 22 persons, on an ad personam basis, as panel members of the Private Columbaria Appeal Board for a three-year term from September 29, 2023, to September 28, 2026. The appointments were gazetted today (September 29):
 
Chairperson
Dr William Wong Ming-fung, SC
 
Deputy Chairpersons
Mr Johnny Fee Chung-ming
Miss Queenie Fiona Lau
Mr Aidan Tam Lon-foong
 
Members
Ms Cindy Chan Chui-bik
Mr Paul Chan Wan-po
Mrs Peggy Cheung Po-yee
Ms Alice Chow Kin-tak
Dr Chung Shan-shan
Mr Tommy Fung Hei-wai
Miss Ha Wing-ka
Mr Joseph Junior Ho
Mr Alec Ho Yat-wan
Mr Frederick Hui Cheuk-kit
Mr Samuel Hui Siu-chor
Professor Alvin Lai Chi-keung
Mr Alex Lai Ting-hong
Miss Sylvia Lee Hiu-wah
Dr Mak Shu-lun
Ms Nancy Ngai Yuet-ping
Ms Miranda So Man-wah
Mr Joseph Wong Yiu-cho
 
     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, welcomed all panel members. He also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, Mr Ambrose Ho, Deputy Chairperson Mr Frederick Chan Hing-fai and 16 members, namely Ms Bonnie Chan Jo-ying, Dr Chau Chi-kwan, Mr Chiu Kam-kuen, Dr Catherine Chong Shiu-yin, Dr Choy Hung-tat, Mr Nevin Ho Chi-lok, Mr Sunny Ho Lap-kee, Mr Lincoln Huang Ling-hang, Mr Spencer Kwan Tin-che, Mr Ben Leung Chi-hung, Mr Philip Leung Kwong-hon, Mr Fred Li Wah-ming, Mr Timothy Ma Kam-wah, Mr Tang Chi-wang, Mr Aaron Wan Chi-keung and Mr Wu Kam-fai, for their contributions to and support for the work of the Board in the past years.
      
     The Private Columbaria Appeal Board is a statutory body established under section 83 of the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Cap. 630). An Appeal Board consisting of a presiding officer (principally the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson) and four panel members will be constituted to hear and determine an appeal lodged by an applicant or a holder of a specified instrument who is aggrieved by a decision made by the Private Columbaria Licensing Board or the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene referred to in section 84(1) of the Ordinance. All presiding officers of the Appeal Boards are legally qualified as defined in section 82 of the Ordinance.
 
     Mr Tse said that the regulation of private columbaria involves complicated and sensitive issues, requiring contributions from a balanced mix of panel members from diverse backgrounds. The appointments to the new term with panel members with expertise in legal, building, engineering, education, commercial business, and social services fields ensure that the Board will review appeal cases from various perspectives.

Ends/Friday, September 29, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:30

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