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The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited announced today (March 27) the appointment of Prof Siu Weng Simon Wong as its Chief Executive Officer, with effect from July 1, 2001.

The Chairman of the Company, Mr Allan Wong, said that the Company's Board of Directors is fully confident that Prof Wong will provide strong leadership to the Company necessary for establishing the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI).

"As the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Prof Wong will play a pivotal role in executing the Company's Board of Directors' visions and strategic directions of ASTRI. With the Professor's strong technological background and good understanding of the Hong Kong scenario, the Company has confidence in his capability to steer ASTRI towards fulfilling its public mission," Mr Wong said.

"The Company was incorporated last year to take forward the planning and implementation work for ASTRI, which is tasked with a public mission to provide midstream research and development capability to help industry turn innovative ideas or scientific research results into commercial products," he said.

Prof Simon Wong is currently Professor of Electrical Engineering in Stanford University, California. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and specialises in high performance semiconductor device structures, advanced interconnection technologies and high frequency modeling.

Prof Wong received his bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, and master's degree and doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley.

He spent several years on engineering and industrial research and development work with National Semiconductor Corporation and Hewlett Packard Laboratories at California before entering the academia as an Assistant Professor at Cornell University. He joined Stanford University in 1988.

Prof Wong has published extensively in technical journals and made presentations at numerous international conferences.

He has also served on numerous boards and committees on technology research and development and has consulted for various semiconductor companies at the Silicon Valley. Through direct involvement, he gained extensive experience in establishing technology start-ups.

Prof Wong's strong ties with Hong Kong can be dated back to his school days, when he received primary and secondary education in Pui Ching.

Between 1994 and 1997, Prof Wong was a visiting professor of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology where he helped set up the Microelectronic Fabrication Laboratory. He has also served as the Panel Chair of Engineering at Research Grants Council since 1993 and has recently been appointed as Member of the University Grant Committee.

Prof Wong will officially take up the appointment of Chief Executive Officer of the ASTRI Company Limited on July 1, 2001. To expedite the establishing work for the ASTRI, Prof Wong will, in the interim, start working for the Company in the capacity of a consultant.

End/Tuesday, March 27, 2001

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