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The Chief Executive has appointed Mr Simon Herbert Mayo, GBS, as chairman of the Deposit Protection Appeals Tribunal (DPAT) for a three-year term with effect from today (January 14, 2005).

The Chief Executive has also appointed the following six persons to the panel from which DPAT members will be selected, for a three-year term with effect from January 14, 2005:

Mr Charles David Booth

Professor Simon Ho Shun-man

Miss Winnie Lun Pong-hing

Ms Melissa Kaye Pang

Mr Rupert James Purser

Mr James Wardell

The DPAT is established under Part 6 of the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (DPSO), which comes into effect today. It is established to review, at the request of depositors or member banks of the Deposit Protection Scheme, certain decisions or assessments made by the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board or the Monetary Authority under the DPSO.

"The establishment of the DPAT is one of the important steps in our implementation plan for the Deposit Protection Scheme in Hong Kong. We are now proceeding with other preparatory work with a view to commencing deposit protection in 2006," a government spokesman said.

"Mr Mayo is a former Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court and had served the Judiciary for more than 34 years. The appointment of Mr Mayo to head the DPAT will contribute to the effective operation of the tribunal. We would also like to thank the members of the panel for agreeing to provide their valuable service."

Ends/Friday, January 14, 2005

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