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The Government today (Wednesday) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed a Council of International Advisers, who will advise the Chief Executive on strategic issues pertinent to the long-term development of Hong Kong from an international perspective.

The council, chaired by the Chief Executive, comprises distinguished international business and corporate leaders. Its members include:

* Dr Karl-Hermann Baumann, Chairman of Supervisory Board, Siemens AG

* Mr Cor Boonstra, President, Royal Philips Electronics

* Mr Andre Desmarais, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Power Corporation of Canada

* Mr Christopher B. Galvin, Chief Executive Officer, Motorola Inc

* Mr Maurice R. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, American International Group, Inc

* Mr Hilmar Kopper, Chairman of Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG

* Mr Jerome Monod, Chairman of Supervisory Board, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux

* Mr Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive, The News Corporation Limited

* Sir William Purves, Ex-Chairman, HSBC Holdings

* Mr Tasuku Takagaki, Chairman of the Board, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd

* Dr Shoichiro Toyoda, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation

* Mr M.A. van den Bergh, Vice-Chairman of the Committee of Managing Directors, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies and President of Royal Dutch Petroleum

* Mr Paul Volcker, Ex-Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank of United States of America

* Mr John F Welch, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Electric Company

The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Trade and Industry and the Head of the Central Policy Unit are also members.

The Council is expected to meet at least once a year and will hold its first meeting in January 1999.

The Chief Executive expressed appreciation for the members' participation in the council.

He said, "I have no doubt that the Council will benefit from the expertise of and advice from these prominent members of the international business community.

"They will be best placed to advise, from an international perspective, on the global and regional development trends affecting Hong Kong's long-term development and the perception of the international business community on Hong Kong's plans and programmes of activities.

"They will also be able to advise on such matters as the investments Hong Kong would need to make in order to enhance our role as a world-class commercial and financial centre, and as a dynamic Special Administrative Region of China under the concept of 'one country, two systems'."

End/Wednesday, October 7,1998

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