Standard Working Hours Committee appointed
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     The Government announced today (April 9) the formation of the Standard Working Hours (SWH) Committee and its appointments.

     The Chief Executive has appointed Dr Leong Che-hung as chairperson of the Committee for a term of three years starting from today.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung welcomed the appointment. He said, "Dr Leong possesses a wealth of professional knowledge and has a distinguished record of community service, including proven experience in the work of high-level Government advisory bodies. I am very pleased that he has agreed to take up the chairmanship of the SWH Committee and I am confident that he will successfully steer the Committee under his able leadership.

     "I also welcome the appointment of 23 members drawn from the labour and business sectors, academia, community and government," he added. Among the members, 12 are serving members of the Labour Advisory Board (LAB). They will sit on the SWH Committee in an ex-officio capacity by virtue of their position on the LAB. As for the composition of the other 11 members, two are from the labour sector and the business sector respectively, three are academics, three represent the community at large and three are government officials.

     "The SWH Committee is tasked with the important mission of following up on the Government's policy study on SWH, promoting understanding of this complex subject and related issues, and advising the Chief Executive on the working hours situation in Hong Kong including whether a statutory SWH regime or any other alternatives should be introduced.

     "I trust that the SWH Committee will work in an objective, holistic and balanced manner and carry out informed and in-depth discussion on working hours with a view to building consensus and identifying the way forward," said Mr Cheung.

     The Labour Department will provide secretariat support to the committee. The first meeting of the SWH Committee will be held as soon as practicable.

     The membership list of the SWH Committee is as follows:

Chairperson
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Dr Leong Che-hung

Non-official Members
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Ms Susanna Chiu Lai-kuen
Professor Chong Tai-leung
Mr Lau Chin-shek
Dr Kevin Lau Kin-wah
Dr Jane Lee Ching-yee
Professor Joe Leung Cho-bun
Mr Ma Ho-fai
Professor Raymond So Wai-man

Members of the Labour Advisory Board as ex-officio members
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(Employee Representatives)
Mr Leung Chau-ting
Mr Chung Kwok-sing
Mr Lee Tak-ming
Mr Ng Chau-pei
Mr Chau Siu-chung
Ms Chan So-hing

(Employer Representatives)
Mr Ho Sai-chu
Dr Kim Mak Kin-wah
Mr Stanley Lau Chin-ho
Mr Irons Sze
Mr Emil Yu Chen-on
Mr Thomas Ho On-sing

Members who are public officers
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Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare
Commissioner for Labour
Government Economist

Ends/Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:30

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