"Building on our Strengths, Investing in our Future" is the theme of the Chief Executive`s Policy Address 2001. Under the dynamic knowledge-based economy, investing in human capital is a strategic issue for the long-term development of Hong Kong. According to the Policy Address 2001, Hong Kong Government will set aside $5 Billion to subsidize those with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training programmes. Therefore continuous learning will, definitely, be the norm for people to go forward, so as to upgrade themselves and sustain Hong Kong`s competitive edge as a leading business hub in the region.

The Hong Kong Management Association has adopted "Succeeding Through Lifelong Learning" as the Theme for 2001. A series of activities pertaining to the theme has been organized by the Theme Year Working Party. For instance, the Working Party has cooperated with the Hong Kong Economic Times in producing a Lifelong Learning Series, which featured a number of successful lifelong learners, such as Dr Elizabeth Shing, Mr Roy Chung, Dr Ng Tat Lun, Mr Alfred Chan, Mr Kennedy Wong, Mr Samson Tam, Ms Josephine Siao, Mr Chong Chan Yau, at its Management Page from mid August to late December. Two luncheon talks on "The Hong Kong Economy at Crossroads: The Importance of Education and Lifelong Learning" and "Making Yourself Competitive", have been organized which featured Professor Edward Chen, JP, President of Lingnan University and Dr Eden Woon, Director, The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce respectively. The highlight of the theme was the annual Susan Yuen Memorial Lecture which was held on 4 September with Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as the guest speaker who delivered a thought provoking speech on "The Path of Zero Resistance - A Scientific Odyssey". All these functions were held successfully and attracted more than 500 executives.

Another upcoming event of the Theme Year is a luncheon talk on "Knowledge - The Absolutely Decisive Factor" by Mr Moses Cheng, Chairman of the Board of Education of the HKSAR. He will explore how companies can control costs, increase productivity and efficiency while maintaining morale of employees in a difficult economic environment.

Mr Moses Cheng is the Senior Partner of Messrs. P.C. Woo & Co. and also serves as an independent non-executive director of a number of listed companies on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Besides Hong Kong, he is also admitted to practise as a lawyer in England and Wales, State of Victoria, Australia and Singapore. Between 1991-95 he was appointed and served as a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. In recognition of his public services, he was awarded OBE by Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom and appointed a Justice of Peace by the Hong Kong Government in 1997.

At the moment, he is the Chairman of the Board of Education, the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, the Council and the Court of the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Committee for the Promotion of Civic Education and the Advisory Committee on New Broad-based Taxes. He is also a member of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. He is an active Rotarian and served as District Governor of Rotary International District 3450 during 1993-94.

The Theme Year luncheon talk on "Knowledge-The Absolutely Decisive Factor" will be held

on:	Monday, 19 November 2001
at:	1:00 pm
at:	Salon 1-3, Level Three JW Marriott Hotel Pacific Place 88 Queensway Wanchai HONG KONG
Language Medium :	English

For enrolment and enquiries, please contact Ms Christine Choy on 2774 8552 or Ms Mei Tang on 2774 8553. You may also visit our website of the Association : www.hkma.org.hk.

Issued by The Hong Kong Management Association on 31 October 2001

For press enquiries, please contact Ms Titania Woo on 2826 0535/7383 5116 or Ms Gigi Lau on 2826 0527 or Ms Sunnie Ma on 2826 0532.