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Jeffrey Lam is the Chamber's New Legislative Council Representative

When registration closed on August 4, Jeffrey Lam was the only candidate who came forward to formally declare interest with the SAR Government to be the next Legislative Council representative for the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.   Therefore, on August 13, the government announced that Mr Lam would be the next Chamber -- or "Commercial First" -- Legco Rep.

The Chamber congratulates Mr Lam and looks forward to him representing our 4,000 members at the Legislative Council.  His predecessor, James Tien, having served for six years as our Legco Rep, is deep in battle in New Territories East for a Legislative Council position representing that geographic constituency.  In fact, the Chamber General Committee took the unusual step, because of appreciation of his excellent work on behalf of the Chamber in the last six years and because of the view that Mr Tien will be able to take care of many of the needs of smaller and medium sized businesses in that area, of endorsing Mr Tien's candidacy in the September 12 direct elections.  We wish him luck.

As for Mr Lam, as you see on page 12 of this issue, he is a person with a broad experience of public service to go with his business accomplishments.  He has served on the General Committee for the past three years.  He has also been active in our very important China Committee, giving insights and advice to our members based on the knowledge he has gained from years of operating inside China.  He knows our members well and understands their concerns.

On September 6, Mr Lam will be holding a Townhall Forum at the Chamber Theatre.  The media will not be present at this event, so members can exchange frank views with him.   I encourage you to come that day to tell him what is on your mind and what you would like to see him achieve in the Legislative Council.  In turn, you can listen to what ideas he has in mind to improve the Hong Kong business environment.  Based on what he hears from you, and from the General Committee, Mr Lam will go forth to the Legislative Council, after he is sworn in on October 6 at the first session, to represent the Chamber's interests.  Obviously, we know that he will not only represent the Chamber, but also will have the greater interests of the business community and of Hong Kong at heart.

I urge you to come to the September 6 Townhall Forum at the Chamber where you can interact with our new Legislative Council Rep, who is very eager to hear from you.  The more interaction he has with members, the better he will be able to represent you.  We look forward to working with him, as all of us know there are many problems facing Hong Kong and the business community in the coming years.

Speaking of elections, you will not want to miss our next Distinguished Speakers Series speaker, the Honourable Gary Locke, Governor of the State of Washington.  He is the first Chinese-American Governor in the United States and is a Democrat close to the John Kerry camp.  Governor Locke will comment at a dinner on how Asia and China figures in a new Kerry Administration, should John Kerry win the November U.S. Presidential Election.

Eden Woon
CEO
HKGCC