The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) announces today (Friday, 29 April 2011) the appointment of its Governing Committee for the term 2011/2012:

Chairman Mr Alex W Y Chu HSBC Life (International) Limited

Deputy Chairman Ms Agnes H K Choi HSBC Insurance (Asia) Limited

Members Mr David Alexander Swiss Reinsurance Company Limited

Mr K P Cheng China Taiping Insurance (HK) Company Limited

Mr Michael E Huddart Manulife (International) Limited

Mr Thomas M N Lee American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited

Mr Jimmy W F Poon Dah Sing Insurance Company Limited

Mr Roger D Steel Sun Life Hong Kong Limited

Mr Harry K T Wong Hong Leong Insurance (Asia) Limited

Mr Allan K N Yu Zurich Insurance Company Limited

Mr Alex W Y Chu has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and Ms Agnes H K Choi has more than 30 years of practical experience in the general insurance.

Under the Governing Committee of the HKFI, there are two Councils responsible for dealing with all technical matters concerning general insurance and life insurance respectively. The General Insurance Council is chaired by Mr Jimmy W F Poon while the Life Insurance Council is chaired by Mr Thomas M N Lee.

Established in August 1988, the HKFI enjoys full recognition by the Hong Kong SAR Government as the representative insurer body of the industry. It exists to promote insurance to the people of Hong Kong and build consumer confidence in the industry by promoting high standards of ethics and professionalism amongst its Members.

Mr Alex W Y Chu
The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Chairman 2011/2012

Mr Chu is currently the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) Chairman.  In the term of 2010/2011, he was the HKFI Deputy Chairman and Chairman of Life Insurance Council (LIC), the Task Force on the Proposed Set-up of Financial Dispute Resolution Centre, Race Discrimination Ordinance and the LIC’s Retirement Scheme Working Group.  He also served as a member of the Task Forces on CEPA, Independence of the Insurance Authority (IA), Policyholders Protection Funds and Renminbi Life Insurance Products under the LIC.  Mr Chu has been the Honorary Secretary of the Insurance Claims Complaints Bureau since 2007. 

Mr Chu is a Member of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Operation Review Committee and Guidelines Committee.  He serves on the Insurance Intermediaries Quality Assurance Scheme (IIQAS) Steering Committee under the IA. He is also a member of the SFC Product Advisory Committee and the Hong Kong Trade Devleopment Council Financial Services Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee of the Asian Financial Forum.

Mr Chu is currently the Director and Head of Employee Benefits Business of HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holding Limited, with overall responsibility for all aspects of the retirement business including business development, on-going scheme and member servicing, together with Group Medical and Group Life sales. He has also been appointed as the Chief Executive of HSBC Life (International) Limited since 2006.

Ms Agnes H K Choi
The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Deputy Chairman 2011/2012

Ms Choi is currently Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) and a member of the HKFI’s Governing Committee and the General Insurance Council (GIC).  In the term of 2010/2011, she was the Chairman of the Task Forces on Disclosure of Intermediaries’ Remuneration and How to Help Develop Hong Kong into a Maritime Centre - from the Insurance Perspective under the GIC.  She also served on various Task Forces, including CEPA, Guidance Note on Outsourcing, Independence of the Insurance Authority, Insurance Scam, P2P Marketing Calls Self-regulation Scheme and Review of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

In addition, she is a member of Employees Compensation Insurer Insolvency Bureau (ECIIB), Board and Advisory Committee of the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau, the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council, Insurance Advisory Committee and MIBHK, as well as the Honorary Secretary of the Insurance Claims Complaints Bureau.  Ms Choi was the President of the East Asian Insurance Congress 2008/2010 and Chairman of the ECIIB for the term of 2005/2006.

Ms Choi is currently the Director and Head of Corporate Insurance of HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited.  In these capacities, she is responsible for the strategic management of the corporate insurance business as well as the reinsurance and claims activities of the company.

Ms Choi qualifies as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) of the UK.

Mr Jimmy W F Poon
General Insurance Council Chairman 2011/2012

Mr Poon is currently Chairman of the General Insurance Council (GIC) and the Governing Committee Member of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.  In the term of 2010/2011, he was the Chairman of the Insurers-Brokers Liaison Committee and the Task Force on How to help Develop Hong Kong into a Maritime Centre - from the Insurance Perspective.  Mr Poon also served on Task Forces in other aspects, including Disclosure of Intermediaries' Remuneration, Guidance Note on Outsourcing, Policyholders' Protection Fund and Review of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and Accident Insurance Association under the GIC.

Mr Poon represents the GIC in the Road Safety Council, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Advisory Committee and serving as the Honorary Secretary of the Insurance Claims Complaints Bureau.  In addition, Mr Poon has been actively participating in various industry bodies and other insurance associations. He is currently appointed as the Chairman of The Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee, the Committee Member of The Transportation Advisory Committee, the Council Member of Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Hong Kong as well as the Advisory Board Member of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation.

Mr Poon, the Chief Executive Officer of Dah Sing Insurance Company (1976) Limited, is responsible for the development of general insurance business of Dah Sing Financial Group in Hong Kong.

Mr Poon holds an ANZII (Assoc) qualification and a Master of Business Management. He has over 29 years of experience in general insurance and expertise in underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, product development, sales and marketing.

Mr Thomas M N Lee
Life Insurance Council Chairman 2011/2012

Mr Lee is currently Chairman of the Life Insurance Council (LIC) and a member of the HKFI’s Governing Committee.  He also serves on various Task Forces and Working Group for the term of 2010/2011 including Disclosure of Intermediaries' Remuneration, Policyholders’ Protection Fund, Independence of the Insurance Authority and Renminbi Life Insurance Products.  He is the Chairman of the Task Force on Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and the Legal Working Group under the LIC.

After graduation from the University of Hong Kong with Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Economics, Mr Lee started his career in the Actuarial field in the insurance industry in 1988.  He joined American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited in 1999 and was appointed the Head of Actuarial Department in 2003.  Mr Lee has later expanded his scope of responsibilities and was appointed as Vice President & Assistant General Manager in 2006.  In 2009, he was appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer spearheading strategic marketing.

Mr Lee obtained Fellowship of the Society of Actuaries, US in 1996.  He has been a member of the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong (ASHK) since 1988 and has served as the Chairperson of the Life Insurance Committee under the ASHK in 2004 and 2005.