New chairman for Hong Kong Institute of Education Council
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     The Government today (March 20) announced that the Chief Executive had appointed Mr Pang Yiu-kai to succeed Dr Thomas Leung Kwok-fai as the Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) with effect from April 25, for a period of three years.  

     The Chief Executive has also appointed Dr Li Ka-cheung as the Treasurer of the HKIEd Council for the same period.

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, welcomed Mr Pang's and Dr Li's appointment.

     "Mr Pang and Dr Li are prominent community leaders who have a solid track record of public service.  I am confident that with Mr Pang as the new chairman and the staunch support provided by the other members, the HKIEd Council will continue to lead the Institute to scale new heights," Mr Suen said.  

     Mr Pang is the Chief Executive of Hongkong Land Limited and is currently the Treasurer of the HKIEd Council.  Dr Li is the Senior Partner of Li, Tang, Chen & Co, Certified Public Accountants and has served on the councils of The Open University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as treasurer and member respectively.

     Mr Suen paid tribute to the outgoing chairman, Dr Thomas Leung Kwok-fai, for his invaluable contribution to the work of the council.  

     "Dr Leung has been fully dedicated to the work of the HKIEd Council.  He has been a member of the council since the establishment of HKIEd in 1994 and took up the chairmanship in 2003.  Under his leadership, HKIEd has made remarkable achievements in teacher education and teachers' professional development," Mr Suen said.

     The HKIEd Council is the executive governing body of the institute under the Hong Kong Institute of Education Ordinance (Cap.444).  It has general control over the administration of the Institute and the conduct of its affairs.  At present, the HKIEd Council has 26 members.

Ends/Friday, March 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01

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