Chairman Yuen, 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 Rat.

The Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb) has been growing since we were established over 10 years ago. Yet, 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.

In 2007, in collaboration with the regional counterparts, we jointly set up the Greater China Arbitration Forum and was elected the president of the Forum; we became the founding member of the Regional Arbitration Institutes Forum, together with our friends and partners at Singapore. We believe that these will be of benefits in enhancing the use and practice of dispute resolution in the region and for Hong Kong.

For our members, with the efforts of our Young Member Co-ordinator and his group, we have launched a brand-new series of seminars titled “Practitioner’s Guide to ADR and Arbitration”. I wish all of you will participate and assist, as speaker or otherwise. At this time, I also like to thank my council and committee 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.