A membership survey conducted last May revealed that many members, especially women, wanted the Chamber to conduct more fellowship activities. To fulfil their wishes, the Chamber formally established the Women Executives Club (WEC) in September 2001.

"Six vice presidents handling six interest areas were elected, forming the executive group of the club," WEC President Sylvia Chiu said. "The six interest areas include: business issues; women's interests; community, charity & education; leisure & recreation; Chamber-wide events; and membership."

Since its inception, the club has maintained a busy schedule, having organised a wide variety of activities, ranging from a charity event in support of Yan Chai Hospital, to luncheon talks featured renowned businesswomen, including Marjorie Yang, Olivia Cheng, Alice Chiu and Laura Aurora.

"Most recently, we had Hong Kong's Audrey Eu and Huang Shu-huei, from Taiwan, speaking to us," Mrs Chiu said.

The club's leisure activities have been equally well received by female members, and so far have included a golf outing, boat trip, pastry cooking demonstration, modelling, nutrition workshop, International Women's Day Cocktail, and a monthly dinner gathering called "Dinner Extravaganza."

"In the months ahead, WEC will continue to identify different activities that will appeal to the tastes of our executive women members," she said.

These will include more educational workshops for businesswomen, as well as organising more networking events to cultivate a stronger sense of fellowship among the club's members.

"In addition, we want to fulfil the spirit of a good corporate citizen and help the needy by getting involved in more community and charity events," she said.