First of all, I would like to extend a very warn welcome to all of you for joining our Chinese New Year Cocktail, our related celebration on the year of Dog.

HKIArb may be new to some of you. I would like to say a few words.

Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb) is a Hong Kong company limited by guarantee established in September 1996. We promogate arbitration, mediation and any other form of ADR. We are a non-profit and charitable organization with approximate 800 members.

One of our objectives is to promote Hong Kong as a Centre for ADR. We, the Hong Kong Institute have be involved in the training of arbitrators and mediators and the setting of appropriate standards of conduct for arbitrators and mediators in Hong Kong. We are involved in the recent law reform on arbitration and mediation. We are working to develop ties with other organizations involved in arbitration and ADR, particularly those within China and in the Asia region. E.g. CIETA, Arbitration Commissions in China, TaiPei, Japan, etc.

We will continue to be active in promoting our Institute within the Region. We have just signed another Co-operation Agreements with Wuhan Arbitration Commissions. We will continue to invite others Regional Arbitration bodies, like Korea, Thailand, Vietnam to sign the Co-operation Agreements with us.

This year, we have already met the Secretary for Justice, Wong Yan Lung, some LEGCO members and Chambers' representative to express our view on arbitration and ADR. We will continue this effort.

For our member, we will have four talks this year on the various subjects of ADR. In addition, on May26, we will have our conference on Arbitration for Greater China, in Shenzhen with all of our co-operating organizations. At which time, I wish all of you will participate and assist. At this time, I also like to thank my council members for your support to now and surely your continuous support.

Finally, the institute needs your support and encouragement and once again I welcome you all to this cocktail and wish you all to have an enjoyable evening and a prospect New Year.

Thank you.