1 Lot in Wong Tai Sin sold for $3.98 billion
Hong Kong Government, 31 July 2007

The Lands Department this afternoon (July 31) held the fourth land auction of the 2007-2008 financial year.  A government lot in Wong Tai Sin was sold for $3.98 billion.

The lot, New Kowloon Inland No 6309, at No 3 Chun Yan Street, Wong Tai Sin was sold to Bethan Company Limited at $3.98 billion.  The opening bid was $3 billion.  New Kowloon Inland No 6309 has a site area of about 9,502 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes.  A minimum gross floor area of 51,311 square metres must be completed.

The auction was conducted at the Arena of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai, by Assistant Director of Lands, Mr James Merritt, assisted by Chief Estate Surveyor, Mr Tony Moyung.

2 Appointments to Managing Board of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Hong Kong Government, 31 July 2007

The Government today (July 31) announced the Chief Executive's decision on the following appointments to the Managing Board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC):-

(a) to re-appoint Mr Michael Tien Puk-sun, to be Chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation until December 31, or the day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette under the Rail Merger Ordinance, whichever is earlier; and

(b) to re-appoint Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang, Mr Ng Leung-sing, Mr Patrick Blackwell Paul, Mr Abraham Shek Lai-him, and Professor Richard Wong Yue-chim, as Members of the Managing Board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation until December 31, or the day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette under the Rail Merger Ordinance, whichever is earlier.
 
In welcoming the decision, the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng said "we are confident that the managing board, with the re-appointment of the chairman and the managing board members, will continue to effectively lead KCRC in the run up to the rail merger."  

Ms Cheng also expressed sincere gratitude to the outgoing member - Mr Wan Man-yee, for his untiring support and contributions to the KCRC board during his tenure of more than four years.  Mr Wan has decided to retire from the board because of other commitments.

Under the KCRC Ordinance, KCRC shall have a managing board comprising a chairman, a chief executive officer and not less than four nor more than eight other members appointed by the Chief Executive. The membership of the board, with effect from August 1, is at Annex.

Annex
*****

Membership List of Managing Board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation with effect from August 1

Chairman
Mr Michael Tien

Chief Executive Officer
Mr James Blake

Members
Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang
Mr Ng Leung-sing
Mr Patrick Blackwell Paul
Mr Abraham Shek Lai-him
Prof Richard Wong Yue-chim
Secretary for Transport and Housing
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury

3 Reappointment of Chairman of MTR Corporation Limited
Hong Kong Government, 31 July 2007

The Government announced today (July 31) that in accordance with the Articles of Association of the MTR Corporation Limited and as the majority shareholder, the Financial Secretary Incorporated has reappointed Dr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo Fung, as the chairman of the corporation.

The reappointment of Dr Ch'ien will take effect from tomorrow (August 1) up to December 31, or the day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette under the Rail Merger Ordinance, whichever is earlier.  Dr Ch'ien was first appointed as the chairman of the corporation on July 21, 2003.

4 Dr Raymond Ch’ien Reappointed Chairman of MTR Corporation
MTR Press Release, 31 July 2007

The MTR Corporation welcomes the Government’s announcement on the reappointment of Dr Raymond Ch’ien Kuo-fung as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Corporation with effect from 1 August 2007 up to 31 December 2007 or the day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette under the Rail Merger Ordinance, whichever is earlier.

“I am very happy to continue to serve MTR and its stakeholders at this critical point of time before the merger of the MTR and KCRC operations takes place,” Dr Ch’ien said.

Dr Ch’ien was first appointed Chairman of the MTR Corporation on 21 July 2003.