Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you for joining our Chinese New Year Cocktail, our related celebration in the year of the Pig.

The Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb) have just celebrated our 10th anniversaries. Through the years, we have now grown close to some 800 members.

Since established, our focus remains on promoting Hong Kong as a dispute resolution centre for international and regional users. We have also been actively involved in the training of arbitrator and mediators, and the setting up of appropriate standards of conduct for arbitrators and mediators in Hong Kong.

We have been working closely with all in the region for the promotion of the training and use of alternative dispute resolution. We have recently signed another Co-operation Agreements with Macau Voluntary Arbitration Centre and the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong. We work with counterparts in the region and had held conferences in various places in Asia.

On training, we have our own fellowship course and we join hands with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Asia Branch) in delivering an associate membership course. We are also working with the Hong Kong Mediation Centre for a mediation training course in the coming months.

At the moment, we are continuing our effort in the setting up the Greater China Arbitration Forum, a body we believe that will be of benefits in enhancing the use and practice of dispute resolution in the region.

For our members, we have scheduled an official visit to Beijing in April, together with other ADR bodies in Hong Kong. I believe you have a one page summary on this when you come in. I wish all of you will participate and assist. At this time, I also like to thank my council members for their support, to make all of these happened.

Finally, the institute surely needs support and encouragement from all of you. 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.