Government Reappoints Dr. Sunny Chai and Mr. Stephen Hung to Lead Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme Vetting Committee

Appointments to Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme Vetting Committee announced

The Government announced today (December 30) the reappointments of Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu and Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun as the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman respectively of the Vetting Committee of the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS).

The Government has also appointed Professor Raymond Choy Hon-sing, Dr Janice Ho Yuen-shan and Ms Juliana Lam Hiu-ying as new members of the Vetting Committee and reappointed 12 incumbent members.

All the above appointments will take effect on January 1, 2025, for a term of two years.

PASS provides financial support for non-profit-distributing organisations to carry out industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services. In order to step up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets after the pandemic situation has stabilised, $50 million has also been set aside under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The Vetting Committee considers individual project proposals under PASS, recommends on the level of funding support, monitors the implementation of the approved projects and advises the Government on the assessment criteria adopted for PASS.

The full membership of the Vetting Committee with effect from January 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman

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Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu

Vice-Chairman

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Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun

Members

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Mr Chan Chak-bun

Professor Juliana Chan Chung-ngor

Professor Raymond Choy Hon-sing

Dr Janice Ho Yuen-shan

Mr Geoffrey Kao

Ms Juliana Lam Hiu-ying

Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen

Professor Phyllis Mo Lai-lan

Mr Ronald Sum Kwan-ngai

Ms Pearl Tse Pui-pui

Professor Wong Kam-fai

Professor Yuen Pak-leung

Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council or his/her representative

Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council or his/her representative

Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Notes exchange service and electronic lai-see for Chinese New Year

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

​As the Chinese New Year draws near, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited) today (January 2) announced that new notes and good-as-new notes, i.e. used notes which are in good condition and suitable for use as lai-see, will be available for exchange at branches of the three note-issuing banks from January 14 (Tuesday) to January 28 (Tuesday).

The HKMA encourages the public to use electronic channels including the Faster Payment System available via online or mobile banking, or other e-wallet services for giving lai-see. Giving electronic lai-see is simple and convenient, and will contribute to sustainable development by reducing the usage of physical red packets and banknotes. Major banks and electronic payment operators will encourage giving electronic lai-see by various promotional programmes. The public may refer to the details of these programmes as and when announced by banks and operators.

The three note-issuing banks will put in place appropriate measures to facilitate the notes exchange, including:

(1)

Advancing the opening hour to 8am on the first 3 days of the service period, i.e. January 14 (Tuesday) to January 16 (Thursday), and dedicating the aforesaid additional operation hours, i.e. 8am to 9am, exclusively for providing the notes exchange service;

(2)

Offering online booking service for both new notes and good-as-new notes starting from January 7 (Tuesday), details of which will be announced by individual note-issuing banks within next week; and

(3)

Putting in place crowd management measures such as distributing physical tickets and implementing queue management when needed.

​Members of the public who desire to use cash for giving lai-see may wish to check for any remaining stock of new notes or good-as-new notes at home before going to a bank. Also, there is no need to rush to exchange for new notes and good-as-new notes during the first few days of the service period as banks will ensure the supply of these notes throughout the service period.