About 700 government officials and business leaders gathered at a cocktail reception this evening (22 May) in honour of Jack So, outgoing Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), who will complete his term at the end of this month. Among the attendees representing the Hong Kong SAR Government were Acting Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Financial Secretary John Tsang. Other political and business leaders attending the event included President of the Legislative Council Jasper Tsang, Regina Ip, Chow Chung Kong and Frederick Ma.
In his speech, Mr So thanked his colleagues at the HKTDC for their support and understanding during his years with the Council, which he described as “the happiest time of my life.”
He also spoke about Hong Kong’s future role in the development of the Chinese mainland. “A new challenge will be to synchronise Hong Kong’s role with China’s 13th Five-Year Plan and our role in the “One Belt, One Road” programme,” Mr So said.
“The TDC has many offices in the ‘One Belt, One Road’ footprint and Hong Kong is in a good position to offer its services to the motherland in the 21st Century.”
HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong paid tribute to Mr So for his contributions to the Council. She said: “During his nearly 15-year association with the TDC, especially in his role as Chairman for the past seven-plus years, Jack has helped guide us through a period of transformation, challenge and growth.
“He also pioneered the Hong Kong Business Associations overseas, which today comprises a network of 39 associations with some 11,000 members in 28 countries, “all acting as Hong Kong’s ambassadors around the world. This would not have been possible without Jack.”
As Executive Director from 1985-1992, Mr So spearheaded the building of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, enabling the local exhibition industry to grow. He was appointed HKTDC Chairman in 2007. Since then, he advocated the development of Hong Kong’s services industries.
Pioneering Spirit
Among the other speakers at the reception was HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Sophia Chong, who praised Mr So for his vision and determination. “When people are merely talking about ideas, our Chairman went straight into making them happen,” Ms Chong said, citing Mr So’s initiatives that helped to reinvigorate Hong Kong’s film industry.
Mr So’s commitment to providing value to customers and exceeding their expectations contributed to the HKTDC’s success, according to Ms Chong. “This philosophy ensures that we are always close to the market and stay relevant to our stakeholders,” she said.
Other speakers at the ceremony were HKTDC Council Member Andrew Leung, and business leader Lawrence Ma, CEO of Lee Heng Diamond Group. Mr Leung praised Mr So for being a trendsetter and visionary. He was particularly impressed by Mr So’s move to set up the Council’s first mainland office, in Beijing, back in 1986, helping Hong Kong traders make inroads to China. Mr Ma highlighted Mr So’s outstanding leadership and management abilities, saying he was always “doing the right things and doing things right.”
Distinguished Career
Mr So began his career with the Hong Kong Government before joining the private sector in 1978, holding several senior positions in stockbroking, banking and property development. In addition to his roles at the HKTDC, Mr So was Chairman and Chief Executive of the MTR Corporation in 1995 and served as Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director of PCCW from 2003 to 2007.
Mr So has been a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference since 2008 and is an International Business Advisor to the Mayor of Beijing. He was appointed Honorary Consultant to the Mayor of San Francisco in May 2013. Mr So will take up the post of Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong on 1 June. Mr Vincent Lo will take up the position of HKTDC Chairman on 1 June.
- See more at: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en/pressrelease/detail/16061/HKTDC%20Chairman%20Jack%20So%20Bids%20Farewell#sthash.PUbmq8IG.dpuf
委 任 董 事
九龍倉集團有限公司(「本公司」;連同其附屬公司統稱為「本集團」)謹宣布,陳國邦先生(「陳先生」)將獲委任為本公司董事,於即將舉行的本公司股東週年大會終結時開始生效,該股東週年大會擬於二○一五年五月十五日舉行。
陳先生,現年 54 歲,於一九九三年加入本集團,一直參與本集團於中國及香港的各項地產發展項目。他是九龍倉中國地產發展有限公司和九龍倉中國置業有限公司(兩者皆為本公司的全資附屬公司)的董事。在本公司前董事吳梓源先生(「吳先生」)於二○一四年年底退休前,陳先生是吳先生的副手。陳先生順利接替吳先生,現與本公司副主席周安橋先生緊密合作,執行本集團的中國發展物業策略,以及管理本集團在中國的大型投資物業建築項目。陳先生亦是本公司的公眾上市附屬公司海港企業有限公司的董事。
陳先生畢業於香港理工大學,是土木及結構工程會士。他是香港工程師學會及英國土木工程師學會會員,以及英國工程協會的特許工程師。
於本公告日期,陳先生擁有可認購本公司 1,250,000 股新股份的認購權權益(證券及期貨條例第十五部所指的權益)。除上文所披露外,陳先生在目前以及在過去三年內並無擔任任何其它公眾上市公司的董事職位。彼與本公司任何董事、高層管理人員、主要股東或控股股東概無任何關係。陳先生將收取本公司一項董事袍金,該項袍金的支付率不時由本公司股東通過而釐定,目前為每年港幣 100,000 元。根據陳先生目前與本集團之間的服務合約,折算為整年基準計算,陳先生於二○一五年的酬金(包括基本薪金及各項津貼等)總額約為每年港幣三百二十萬元。此外,陳先生通常會收到一項酌情性質的周年花紅,有關花紅的金額乃每年由僱主單方面釐定。作為參考用途,二○一四年支付予彼的酌情性質的周年花紅為港幣四百萬元。支付予陳先生的酬金金額乃由本公司參考香港僱主一般給予一名才幹及工作職責相若的高級行政人員的薪酬待遇範圍而釐定。就陳先生的委任而言,並無任何須根據上市規則第 13.51(2)(h)至13.51(2)(v)條的條文規定而須予披露的資料,亦沒有須提呈予本公司股東知悉的任何其它事項。根據本公司的組織章程細則條文,陳先生將一直出任本公司董事職位,直至彼在二○一六年舉行的本公司股東週年大會上卸任為止。
於本公告日期,本公司董事會的成員為吳光正先生、吳天海先生、周安橋先生、李玉芳女士、徐耀祥先生和凌緣庭女士,以及八位獨立非執行董事歐肇基先生、陳坤耀教授、錢果豐博士、方剛議員、捷成漢先生、李維文先生、唐寶麟先生和楊永強教授。
九龍倉集團有限公司
公司秘書
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香港 二○一五年三月二十四日