Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced on Friday the appointment of eight new members to the Executive Council (Exco) with effect from November 1.

The Executive Council has been formed to assist the Chief Executive in his decision making.

The new appointees are: Charles Lee Yeh-kwong, Ronald Arculli, David Li Kwok-po, Edward Leong Che-hung, Marvin Cheung Kin-tung, Henry Fan Hung-ling, Victor Lo Chung-wing and Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung.

"These eight new Members come from different sectors of the community, including financial services, banking, business, industries, legal, medical and health, and academia," Tsang said. "They are all distinguished figures in these sectors and have extensive experience in public service."

Tsang said the new members, while excelling in their own professions, are "also socially and politically astute across the spectrum of public affairs in Hong Kong." He believed "they are capable of offering sound and insightful counsel both within and outside their respective fields in the widest interests of the public."

Tsang noted that an expanded Executive Council would take its membership from a wider spectrum of the community.

"A broader range of views can help me consider issues from a wider perspective when formulating policies and can help improve our governance," he added.

The chief executive also announced that "to further enhance liaison and communication among Non-official Members, I decided to reinstate the post of Convenor of the Executive Council Non-official Members, and I am very pleased that Leung Chun-ying has kindly accepted my invitation to be the Convenor."

Charles Lee Yeh-kwong is independent non-executive chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ronald Arculli is chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, David Li Kwok-po is chairman of the Bank of East Asia Limited, Edward Leong Che-hung is chairman of the Elderly Commission and Cheung Kin-tung is chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Tracker Fund of HongKong.

Henry Fan Hung-ling is managing director of CITIC Pacific Limited, Victor Lo Chung-wing is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Anthony Cheung Bing-leung a professor of the City University of Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2005)