The Government announced today (October 27) that the Financial Secretary, under the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, has reappointed Mr Eugene Fung Ting-sek, SC, as the Chairman of the Process Review Panel for the Insurance Authority (PRP), and also appointed five new members and six incumbent members for a term of two years from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2025.
 
     The newly appointed members are Mr Mike Lee Siu-chuen, Mr Martin Tam Chi-wai, Professor Raymond Wong Man-kong, Ms Alice Yip Ka-ming and Ms Fion Yip Yan-ting, while Miss Grace Chan Man-yee, Mr Paul Cheung Lap, Mr Wilson Chow Wai-shun, Mrs Agnes Koon Woo Kam-oi, Dr James C Lin and Mr Jeff Wong Kwan-kit have been reappointed as members of the PRP.
 
     "The Chairman and members of the PRP have contributed valuable advice on the internal procedures and operational guidelines of the Insurance Authority (IA) in various areas of the IA's regulatory functions. We are grateful to the PRP for efforts devoted in conducting reviews, and confident that the PRP will continue operating effectively to help ensure that the IA exercises its regulatory powers in a fair and consistent manner," a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said.
 
     "We would like to express our gratitude to the outgoing member, Mr Patrick Law Fu-yuen, for his support and contributions during his service in the PRP."
 
     The PRP is an independent panel established with the approval of the Chief Executive on November 1, 2019, to review and advise the IA on the adequacy of the IA's internal procedures and operational guidelines governing the actions taken and operational decisions made by the IA and its staff in the performance of the IA's regulatory functions.
 
     The membership of the PRP with effect from November 1, 2023, is as follows:
 
Chairman
Mr Eugene Fung Ting-sek, SC
 
Members
Miss Grace Chan Man-yee 
Mr Paul Cheung Lap
Mr Wilson Chow Wai-shun
Mrs Agnes Koon Woo Kam-oi
Mr Mike Lee Siu-chuen
Dr James C Lin
Mr Martin Tam Chi-wai
Mr Jeff Wong Kwan-kit
Professor Raymond Wong Man-kong
Ms Alice Yip Ka-ming
Ms Fion Yip Yan-ting
 
Ex-officio members
Chairman of the IA
Secretary for Justice (or his representative)

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 27) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The enhanced Strive and Rise Programme has started recruiting the second cohort today (October 27) to provide focused support for more secondary students from underprivileged families.

     As announced in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address", the second round of the Strive and Rise Programme will include such new elements as: increasing the number of mentees from 2 800 to 4 000, with an extension to cover Secondary Four students from underprivileged families; enriching the variety of group activities with more Mainland study and exchange tours; introducing mentorship groups; and establishing an Alumni Club for mentees who have completed the Programme to provide them with diversified social activities and internship opportunities.

     Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families, particularly those living in sub-divided units, may approach their schools or the non-governmental organisations that assist the Government in implementing the Programme (see Annex) for enquiries and application starting from today. Applications will close on November 16.

     The Programme is formulated and implemented by an interdepartmental task force led by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Through tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the Programme provides focused support for Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families, particularly those living in sub-divided units. The Programme comprises three key elements, namely mentorship, personal development plans and financial support. Each mentee will be paired with a volunteer mentor who will share his/her life experience, inspire the mentee to explore more possibilities for personal development, assist the mentee in improving self-confidence, and encourage the mentee to set personal goals in a proactive and positive manner.

     In addition, the mentors will assist the mentees in developing positive financial planning concepts and provide guidance on ways to make good use of the start-up financial support of $5,000 provided by the Programme to take forward their personal development plans. Upon successful completion of the Programme, a scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to the mentees for their personal pursuits by applying the financial planning concepts that they have learned. 

     Through a structured programme covering orientation, basic training, diverse group activities, mentor-mentee interactive sessions, etc, the Programme will help mentees broaden horizons, reinforce self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life, set goals for the future and strive for upward mobility. Upon successful completion of the one-year intensive foundation programme, mentees will automatically become members of the Alumni Club for two years.

     For more information about the application details of the second round of the Programme, please visit the designated website: www.striveandrise.gov.hk.

     The Government announced today (October 27) that the Chief Executive has reappointed the following individuals to the Estate Agents Authority (EAA) for a period of two years with effect from November 1, 2023:
 
Chairman
Mr Simon Siu Chak-yu
 
Vice-Chairman
Ms Jane Curzon Lo
 
Persons of Category A (the estate agency sector)
Mr Tsoi Chi-chung
Ms Angela Wong Ching-yi
 
Person of Category C (others)
Mr Jonathan Chang Tien-yin
 
     The membership list of the EAA with effect from November 1, 2023, is as follows:
 
Chairman
Mr Simon Siu Chak-yu
 
Vice-Chairman
Ms Jane Curzon Lo
 
Persons of Category A (the estate agency sector)
Mr Chiu Kam-kuen
Mr Jacob Poon Tat-hang
Mr Tsoi Chi-chung
Ms Angela Wong Ching-yi
Mr Yu Chi-wing
 
Persons of Category B (related fields)
Mr Albert Cheng Ting-ning
Professor Eddie Hui Chi-man
Mr Daryl Ng Win-kong
Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han
 
Persons of Category C (others)
Mr Jonathan Chang Tien-yin
Mr Chow Wai-shun
Ms Irene Chu Ngar-yee
Ms Meena Datwani
Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping
Mr Kevin Wong Ho
Mr Michael Wong Yick-kam
Mr Eric Woo Hing-yip
Permanent Secretary for Housing or her representative
 
     The EAA is a statutory body established on November 1, 1997, under the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511) with a view to enhancing the standard of service of estate agents and the protection of buyers and sellers of property.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (October 26) congratulated Chan Yui-lam on winning a gold medal in the Women's 100m Butterfly S14 at the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou. 
 
     Mr Yeung said, "Carrying the great momentum from the recent triumphs by the Hong Kong, China Delegation, Chan won her second gold medal. We are so excited. Hong Kong athletes are willing to take up challenges and demonstrate high standards in any situation. We are touched by the sportsmanship they showed during the competitions and their achievements deserve our great applause."

     The Hong Kong, China Delegation has so far won 30 medals, namely five golds, nine silvers and 16 bronzes, at this Asian Para Games. The list of medals won today are as follows:
 
Gold medal
————–
Swimming: Women's 100m Butterfly S14
Chan Yui-lam

Bronze medal
————–
Athletics: Women's 100m – T36
Yam Kwok-fan

Athletics: Men's 1500m – T13
Wong King-yeung

Badminton: Men's Singles – WH2
Chan Ho-yuen

Badminton: Men's Singles – SH6
Wong Chun-yim