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The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
The Secretary for Education and Manpower today (March 23) announced new appointments to the University Grants Committee. The Hon Cha May Lung Laura will succeed Dr Alice Lam Lee Kiu-yue as chairman from April 1, 2007.
Mrs Cha said she was very pleased to accept the appointment. "The University Grants Committee plays an important function in advising the Administration on the strategic development of the higher education sector and the financial needs of the eight publicly-funded institutions. I am honoured that I shall be involved in the process of shaping strategy and policy in an area that has a major impact on our younger generations. I fully embrace this opportunity," she said.
"The coming few years are going to be challenging for the institutions and the University Grants Committee. We are embarking on a new undergraduate academic structure and it is going to be a phase of growth. I know I have a lot to learn, but I also hope my expertise in the financial sector and experience gained in other advisory bodies will allow me to bring new perspectives to the sector.
"I look forward to working collaboratively with the Administration, the eight institutions and the higher education sector in general, to further promote quality and excellence."
Mrs Cha is the non-executive Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. She has served on the Executive Council since October, 2004. She has rich experience in financial regulation, and was the Deputy Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission from 1998 to 2001. She had also served on the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for nearly ten years since August 1996. Mrs Cha was awarded SBS in 2001 and became a Justice of Peace in 2006.
The list of new members appointed to the committee is as follows:
Chairman:
Mrs Laura Cha May Lung (for three years with effect from April 1, 2007)
Members:
Mrs Pamela Chan Wong Shui (from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010)
Professor Willard Fee (from January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010)
Professor Malcolm Grant (from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010)
Ex-officio Member:
Chairman, Quality Assurance Council of the University Grants Committee
Ends/Friday, March 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:00
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