Additional appointments to Fishermen Claims Appeal Board (Trawl Ban)
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     The Government today (April 10) announced the appointment of seven additional chairmen and 22 additional members to the Fishermen Claims Appeal Board (Trawl Ban) (FCAB).

     Arising from the implementation of the trawl ban, the FCAB was established to process appeals regarding an ex-gratia allowance (EGA) for affected trawler owners and a one-off grant for eligible local deckhands and inshore fish collector owners. A total of 858 appeals have been received.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "The FCAB, which is a non-statutory body, is served by a pool of chairmen and members who are non-officials from the legal profession, academia and business sector taking turns to conduct the hearings. In view of the fact that, as of now, there are still some 600 appeal cases to be heard by the FCAB, we see merits to expanding the pool of chairmen and members so as to expedite the processing of appeals."

     The following new chairmen and members are appointed with immediate effect. Their term will last until completion of the work on all appeals:

Chairmen:
Mr Chan Bo-ching
Mr Kenneth Ma Kwok-keung
Miss Anita Ma Wing-tseung
Mr Erik Shum Sze-man
Mr Anthony Siu Yat-fung
Ms Judy Tong Kei-yuk
Mr Charles Wong Tuk-ching

Members:
Miss Grace Au Wing-yan
Dr Jonathan Chan Ming-yin
Mr Chan Wan-po
Miss Chen Ning-ning
Dr Chiu Man-ying
Mr Chow Chun-keung
Dr Chung Shan-shan
Mr Alec Ho Yat-wan
Mr Frederick Hui Cheuk-kit
Mr Samuel Hui Siu-chor
Mr William Alvin Hui
Ms Ip Fong-sin
Mr Terry Kan Wing-fai
Dr Lam Ho-yi
Ms Lam May-lin
Dr Lee Chui-ping
Dr Benny Lo Kwan-ching
Mr Mak Shu-lun
Ms Ngai Yuet-ping
Mr Shum Hon-wo
Ms Miranda So Man-wah
Mr Wong King

     To help restore the seabed and depleted marine resources, the Government has been implementing a basket of fisheries management measures, including banning trawling in Hong Kong waters since December 31, 2012.

     To help fishermen affected by the trawl ban, the Government has introduced an assistance package which includes an EGA payment to eligible trawler owners affected by the trawl ban, and a one-off grant to eligible local deckhands and inshore fish collector owners. An Inter-departmental Working Group (IWG) has been set up by the Government to handle applications for the assistance. Parties applying for the assistance who feel aggrieved by the decisions made by the IWG about the assistance offered to them or their eligibility for assistance may lodge appeals with the FCAB.

     The composition of the enlarged FCAB is at Annex.

Ends/Monday, April 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:13

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