Appointments to Women's Commission
The Government announced today (January 10) the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of nine incumbent members to the Women's Commission (WoC). Their two-year term will take effect from January 15, 2025.
The four new members are Ms Diana Cesar, Ms Maisy Kung Mei-chi, Miss Siu Hoi-yan and Ms Wong Hau-yan. The nine reappointed members are Mrs Jennifer Cheng Yu Ngar-wing, Ms Rita Gurung, Ms Jin Ling, Ms Lam Wai-ling, Ms Helen Lu Hai, Mrs Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying, Ms Cindy Pun Siu-fung, Professor Sham Mai-har and Ms Vivian Wong Man-lei.
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, welcomed the appointments and reappointments. She said, "The newly appointed and reappointed members come from diverse backgrounds and have rich experience in their professions and community services. I trust that they will give valuable advice to the Government on women's development in Hong Kong."
Miss Makalso thanked the three outgoing members, Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang and Mr Walter Tsui Yu-hang, for their contributions to the WoC.
Since its establishment in 2001, the WoC has spared no effort in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong and advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women's affairs.
The membership of the WoC for the new term is as follows:
Non-official members
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Dr Eliza Chan Ching-har (Chairperson)
Ms Diana Cesar
Mrs Jennifer Cheng Yu Ngar-wing
Ms Ching Ngon-lai
Ms Rita Gurung
Ms Jin Ling
Ms Maisy Kung Mei-chi
Ms Lam Wai-ling
Ms Helen Lu Hai
Professor Lui Yu-hon
Miss Juanita Mok Uen-ying
Ms Winnie Ng Wing-mui
Mrs Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying
Ms Cindy Pun Siu-fung
Professor Sham Mai-har
Miss Siu Hoi-yan
Dr So Wing-yee
Mr Adrian Tam Kin
Ms Vivian Tsui Sau-yin
Ms Wong Hau-yan
Ms Vivian Wong Man-lei
Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying
Ex-officio members
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Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs or representative (Vice-Chairperson)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs or representative
Director of Social Welfare or representative
Government continues to support owners having engaged Will Power and Prestige
The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption stated earlier today (June 10) that they had laid charges against Will Power Architects Company Limited (Will Power) and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., Limited (Prestige), as well as seven individuals who played different roles in the major maintenance project of Wang Fuk Court. The Government understands that some buildings and housing estates have hired these two companies as consultant or contractor for their building maintenance works. As the individuals and companies involved will no longer be able to perform their duties for the works, the Government is providing appropriate support to assist these owners in following up the relevant works having regard to their circumstances.
For owners who have engaged Will Power as their consultant with the maintenance works commenced, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced yesterday (June 9) that it would provide transitional arrangement free-of-charge for approximately 37 cases that have received URA's building rehabilitation subsidies or support services, so as to assist the owners in engaging an Independent Reviewer to promptly conduct third-party assessment, clarify the fees for the completed but not yet paid works so that the owners' corporations (OCs)/ owners can pay to the contractors, as well as prepare tender documents for the appointment of a new works consultant. As for a few cases that are not URA's original clients, the URA may also provide such transitional arrangement on a fee-paying basis. Please refer to the press release issued by the URA for details (www.ura.org.hk/en/news-centre/press-releases/20260609).
As for cases where Will Power has been engaged as consultant but yet to sign the works contract with the contractor, the owners should first terminate the contract with Will Power, and then consider engaging a new works consultant through the enhanced "Smart Tender" to be launched by the Government and the URA. In this connection, in order to facilitate owners' termination of the consultancy services of Will Power, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has, in consultation with the URA and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), compiled a set of reference materials to provide advice to the OCs on the termination of the consultancy services of Will Power and follow-up matters. The District Offices will contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide relevant reference materials and arrange briefings by the URA and the HKIS to these OCs and owners where necessary.
In addition, regarding cases where Prestige has been engaged as the contractor while their consultant is not Will Power, since qualified consultants have been engaged for these maintenance works, the consultants have the responsibility to assist owners in supervising their contractors' work and addressing any issues that arise during the course of the works. Hence, the owners should discuss possible solutions with their consultants, including terminating the existing works contracts, and consider seeking legal advice where necessary. The District Offices will continue to contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide appropriate support.
If buildings have received Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme notices and the compliance period has expired or will expire shortly, the Buildings Department (BD) will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis.
Furthermore, a DEVB spokesman said that the BD had removed Prestige from the register of general building contractors in February this year. However, this will not exempt Prestige or the relevant individuals from criminal liabilities under the Buildings Ordinance. For contractors, registered inspectors and other involved persons who have violated the Ordinance, the BD will separately take prosecution actions and impose penalties having regard to the investigation results.
Source: AI-found images
