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The Government today (November 28) announced that the Chief Executive had appointed Mr Ambrose Ho as the chairman of the Broadcasting Authority (BA) for a term of two years from December 1, 2008, to succeed the retiring chairman Mr Daniel Fung.
Mr Ho, a barrister by profession, is active and experienced in public services. He is currently the vice-chairman of the Consumer Council and has served as the deputy chairman of the Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board.
Welcoming the appointment, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, said: "We are pleased that Mr Ho has agreed to take up the chairmanship. I am confident that his sound legal background and ample experience in communications, competition and consumer protection will be a strong asset for leading the BA in the era of technological advancement and media convergence."
Mrs Lau thanked Mr Fung who will have served the BA for six years upon the completion of his current term by the end of November.
"I would like to express our deep gratitude to Mr Fung for his significant contribution to the development of the broadcasting scene in Hong Kong," Mrs Lau said.
"During his tenure, the BA witnessed many momentous and exciting developments in the broadcasting field, including the commencement of two new domestic pay television licences following the end of the local subscription television monopoly, the official launch of digital free-to-air television services, and the licensing of a third commercial radio service, all of which enhance the programming choice of viewers and listeners. Under the able leadership of Mr Fung, the BA has maintained a level playing field in the broadcasting sector which encourages competition and choice for the public," Mrs Lau said.
At the same time, the Chief Executive re-appointed Mr Kwok Lit-tung as a member of the BA for a term of two years starting from December 1, 2008.
The membership list of the BA with effect from December 1, 2008, is as follows:
Non-official members:
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Mr Ambrose Ho (Chairman)
Professor Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon
Mrs Stella Lau Kun Lai-kuen
Mrs Yvonne Siu Sun Yuk-bui
Mr Kwok Lit-tung
Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man
Mr Henry Tsang Yuk-wong
Ms Marina Wong Yu-pok
Ms Wong Sau-ying
Official members:
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Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), Mr Duncan Warren Pescod
Director-General of Telecommunications, Mrs Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen
Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Grace Lui Kit-yuk
Ends/Friday, November 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:53
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