We were honoured by the presence of Mr. Herbert Hui (75) who took time to share with us his personal thoughts about changes he perceived to Hong Kong throughout different stages of his career. Herbert is Deputy & Vice Chairman of Ocean Grand Holdings Ltd, one of the top five manufacturers of aluminium extrusion products in China, as well as Deputy Chairman of Ocean Grand Chemicals Holdings Ltd, a leading electroplating chemicals producer in China.

Herbert graduated from the School of Law at University in Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Laws degree and, in response to an advertisement in the newspapers, started his career in the world of merchant banking. He spent five years at Schroders, then a leading merchant bank in Hong Kong, where he learnt, among many other things, to say "No" to unacceptable governance practices - this was an aspect of professionalism which he has found invaluable in his subsequent work.

Herbert was then invited to join the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as a securities market regulator. He spent nine years at the Exchange and was ultimately promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Executive and Head of the Listing Division of the Exchange. During that time, he grew the Listing Division from a mere six people to a strong department of many dozen executives responsible for the regulatory supervision of companies listed on the Exchange.

It was time for another change for Herbert, who accepted a directorship at the Guangdong Investment group, where he worked for two years. With the benefit of his broad experience, he maintained his company on an even keel while the rest of the Guangdong group collapsed around him due to allegations of mismanagement and fraud. It was a very difficult time for the group as nearly a hundred banks were knocking on the door seeking repayment of their outstanding loans. It was Herbert's close attention to corporate governance that saved the day - long before the events unfolded at the group, he had strategically introduced independent directors to its companies to strengthen their management.

After Guangdong, Herbert did a short stint at SuneVision, where he successfully listed the company on the Exchange. With the support of the management of Sun Hung Kai Properties, he studied a six-month course at Harvard University where he rubbed shoulders with the chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies and other who's-whos of the international business community.

Herbert holds senior positions in many public bodies, including the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, The Independent Commission Against Corruption, Small & Medium Enterprises Corporation, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Ltd, Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation, Hong Kong Society of Accountants, Hong Kong Baptist University and Community Chest of Hong Kong. He also serves as director on the board of a number of companies.

Herbert has a mission, as evidenced by his substantial contribution to public life in Hong Kong. He is passionate about corporate governance, and he wants Hong Kong to retain its competitive edge in the region by its clean and professional image. He strives to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises, as they contain the majority of businesses and employ a substantial portion of the working population locally. He strongly believes that, through the growth of such enterprises within a proper governance framework, Hong Kong has something to offer the business community over and above our neighbouring competing economies.

We are grateful to Herbert for sharing his insight and experiences with us and wish him all the best in his career and public service.

Matthew Chan (77)

(03/04)