The 1st Annual General Meeting was held on 18 September at Hong Kong Club, with about 50 members present at this first anniversary meeting. During the meeting, a brief report on the development of the Council for its first 12 months was presented by our Chairman, Mr. Bernard CHAN.

Mr. Chan said, "The most important event for the Council during the past 12 months was, of course, the actual foundation of this organization. Thanks to the support and cooperation of official and private-sector parties in both Hong Kong and in Thailand, the Council enjoyed a very successful launch.

"To enable the Council to fulfill its mission successfully, we began work during the last year in building our overall foundation. These include attracting more advisors and directors, creating the website, building a database for networking, working on membership benefits, and maintaining communications through e-mails and the website.

"Looking ahead, we are hoping to deepen our contacts with the Thai business community through the APEC CEO Summit in Thailand in October and we are planning a delegation to Thailand.

"I think it would be useful if we arrange more opportunities for contact among members via business luncheons in the year ahead. And I would like to see us build our connections with the Mainland through a delegation to China.

"If the theme for the last 12 months was 'getting started', I suppose the theme for the next 12 months will be 'Leveraging CEPA and FTA'.

To conclude, I'd like to thank all my fellow Board Members for their dedication and support. And I look forward to seeing the Council enjoy a very successful second year."

It was also resolved in the meeting that all directors would be re-elected and Ernst & Young would be appointed Honorary Auditors of the Council until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting in 2004. (Click here for the AGM minutes)