CHAIR'S MESSAGE Dear Members First of all, I would like to thank the Executive team for arranging the Annual General Meeting on the 14th September 2022 and all the members who participated in that meeting and the subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting. At the AGM we received reports on the events and activities of the Chamber over the past year and were regaled by the Chair, Peter Burnett, with his experiences as Chair over the last four years. Peter has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Chamber during this time and I wish to thank him on behalf of the new “regime” for his dedication and service. At the AGM a total of fourteen officers were appointed to the General Committee representing many aspects and facets of the Chamber membership. Along with the appointed members of GenCom we also have a number of co-opted members, as well as Committee Chairs. Underpinning and undertaking a huge amount of (often invisible) work on behalf of the Chamber is the Executive team led by David Graham. To one and all, I wish to give a vote of thanks. An enormous amount goes on behind to scenes to make the Chamber run smoothly. I am deeply honoured to have been handed the baton as Chair of the Chamber and to step into those “big shoes” worn by Peter Burnett over the last few years. Equally, I am delighted that Jeremy Sheldon of JLL and James Turner of Prudential were appointed as Vice Chairs with Paul McSheaffrey continuing as the Treasurer. Together we look forward to the opportunities ahead as Hong Kong rebounds in terms of the economy and we all reconnect both from the business as well as social perspectives. For those who attended the AGM you will have heard Peter Burnett commenting on the Chair before him, Mark Greenberg, who upon handing over the reins said you will have enormous fun and meet with a whole range of fascinating people and experts. In my many years of active involvement in the Chamber, I have already had a lot of fun and have met amazing and interesting people, but it is fair to note that in the last couple of years the social side of business has been a little wanting. Looking forward I will be seeking to attend Committee xxxxx
meetings to find out the agenda and directions being set for the year ahead, participating in events, continuing the advocacy role we play so well, along with meeting as many of the members as possible. Together with the aforementioned team, we look forward to working together with the membership as we seek to re-energise Hong Kong and enjoy an economic rebound and “boundless prosperity”. So, the plans for the year ahead? Firstly, it is my express intention to avoid the topic which has dominated all conversations over the last couple of years, and to focus forward! Thinking of the year ahead, and reflecting on the excellent Summit which was held 12-13th October 2022 under the theme of Hong Kong 25 Years and Beyond, the core themes we will be arranging our activities around include: Establishing relationships with the New Administration within the HKSAR Government. Initial communications and outreach for meetings and dialogue have been positively received and we have started some of these meetings, bringing relevant Sterling and Committee members along. This is a fundamental activity of the Chamber as we seek to share views and ideas with the intention of making positive and constructive suggestions for the business community to thrive. We look forward to participating in such activities throughout the year. 02
