Press Releases

Appointments to Social Welfare Advisory Committee

        The Government today (November 30) announced the appointment of six new members and the re-appointment of the chairman and four incumbent members to the Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC). All appointments will take effect from tomorrow (December 1).

        The six new members are Mr Quentin Fong King-sang, Mr Herman Hui Chung-shing, Dr Benjamin Lai Sau-shun, Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang, Mr Tung Chi-fat and Ms Lisa Yip Sau-wah. They are appointed for a term of two years.

        Mr Fong is the Assistant Vice-President of Community Relations of Public Affairs of Pacific Century Cyber Works Limited (PCCW) who has served in the Boys' and Girls' Club Association of Hong Kong before joining the PCCW. Mr Fong has been very active in promoting volunteerism.

        Mr Hui is a consultant solicitor. He is very familiar with welfare matters and is currently serving on a number of boards and committees related to welfare namely, the Council of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped, the Guardianship Board, the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee and the Disciplinary Committee of the Social Workers' Registration Board.

        Dr Lai is a private practising psychiatrist who has previously worked in various public hospitals. He is renowned in the psychiatric field in Hong Kong and is currently a member of several welfare-related committees and advisor/consultant in various welfare organisations.

        Mr Lo is an experienced solicitor and is well versed with community services, such as serving on the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee, the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS, the former District Board and the Social Welfare Service Quality Assessment Review Board.

        As the Executive Director of the Neighbourhood Advice-action Council, Mr Tung has rich experience in the social welfare sector and has served on a few welfare-related advisory committees such as the Social Work Training Fund Committee.

        Ms Yip is a secondary school principal with experience in handling youth matters and has served on the district management boards of YMCA and the Sub-Committee on Promotion of Student and Youth Volunteering.

        Meanwhile, the chairman and four incumbent members have been re-appointed. The chairman, Mr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, and three members Mrs Cheung Ang Siew-mei, Dr Stephen Chow Chun-kay and Mr Keith Lam Hon-keung are appointed for a term of two years. Dr Leung Cho-bun is re-appointed for a term of one year.

        The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, welcomed the appointment of the new members and the re-appointment of the chairman and incumbent members. He looked forward to their contribution to the development of welfare policy issues.

        Dr Chow also thanked the five outgoing members - Ms Vivien Chan; Dr Darwin Chen; Mr Wilfred Lee Chee-wah, Mr Poon Huen-wai; and Mr Stephen Yau How-boa - for their contribution to the work of the SWAC during their term of appointment.

        The functions of the SWAC are to keep social welfare services under continuous review, and to advise the Government on all matters of social welfare policy.

        Following is the membership list of the SWAC as from December 1, 2004:

Chairman:

Mr Wilfred Wong Ying-wing, JP

Members:

Mrs Cheung Ang Siew-mei

Dr Stephen Chow Chun-kay, BBS, JP

Dr Miranda Chung Chan Lai-foon,

Ms Christine Fang Meng-sang, JP

Mr Quentin Fong King-sang

Mr Herman Hui Chung-shing, MH

Dr Benjamin Lai Sau-shun,

Mr Keith Lam Hon-keung, OBE, JP

Dr Leung Cho-bun

Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang, JP

Prof Diana Mak Ping-see

Mr Tung Chi-fat

Mr Aaron Wan Chi-keung, BBS, JP

Ms Marina Wong Yu-pok, JP

Mr Silva Yeung Tak-wah, JP

Ms Lisa Yip Sau-wah

Miss Jessie Yu Sau-chu, MH

Ends/Tuesday, November 30, 2004

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