Public expectations of the Authority seem to be getting higher and higher. Fortunately, I have immense support from an excellent Administration team as well as the Government and Members of the Authority. In the past six months, this support has been boosted further by the arrival of three senior legal professionals at the Authority.
Mr Pius Cheng, Director of Regulatory Affairs & General Counsel. With a government scholarship, Pius studied law in the United Kingdom and took his Master of Laws at the University of Cambridge . He has over 20 years of post-qualification experience, specialising in property transactions. He had worked as General Counsel of the Urban Renewal Authority, and as an International Partner of Messrs Baker & McKenzie. Always keen to explore different areas of work, Pius joined the Authority to take up new challenges.
Miss Shirley Chua, Director of Operations. Educated in the United Kingdom with a Master of Laws Degree from the London University , Shirley specialises in corporate finance, banking, commercial and property law. She had spent two decades in overseas and local private legal practice and in-house regional counsel work for a major US bank. “Justice must be done and it must be seen to be done” is a truism Shirley holds dear. She decided to leave the commercial world and use her multi-jurisdictional legal qualifications and cross territorial legal experience to make the regulatory regime for local estate agents better, fairer and more efficient for all in her new role in the Authority.
Miss Ruby Hon, Director of Services. Ruby also studied law in the London University . With 20 years of post-qualification experience, she specialises in property-related matters and trust and estate planning matter for high net-worth clients. Before joining the Authority, she was one of the founding partners of a local law firm with close Mainland links. She had acted for many local and overseas investors in complex project developments involving hotels, schools, golf courses, exchange and assembly of land and project financing. Ruby sees the joining of the Authority as, in addition to her many community services, a new opportunity to make a contribution to the society.
I am glad these learned and experienced professionals with impressive track records have joined the Authority. Through all the difficulties and challenges colleagues have faced, we have felt the same sense of mission. Now we will strive together to enhance the skills and competence of estate agents, improve their mode of operation, and raise the status of the sector.
For our drive to serve the community remains strong; and our commitment to the people of Hong Kong the same!
|