Chief Executive Donald Tsang has announced the membership of the Executive Council for the third-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Outgoing Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui has been invited to join the existing 15 non-official ExCo members, who have been asked to continue to serve on the council to maintain continuity. All 15 Principal Officials appointed under the accountability system also sit on ExCo.

Their term will take effect on July 1.

The non-official members are:

* Leung Chun-ying;

* Tsang Yok-sing;

* Cheng Yiu-tong;

* Andrew Liao;

* Selina Chow;

* Laura Cha;

* Bernard Chan;

* Rafael Hui;

* Charles Lee;

* Ronald Arculli;

* David Li;

* Leong Che-hung;

* Marvin Cheung;

* Henry Fan;

* Victor Lo; and

* Prof Anthony Cheung.

The Chief Executive said Mr Hui had a wealth of experience in public administration, having served in many senior positions both in government and in public organisations.

"I am most grateful to him for his wise counsel during his tenure as Chief Secretary for Administration in the past two years. He has made significant contributions to Hong Kong's development. I am confident that with his outstanding ability and experience in public administration, he will continue to make valuable contributions to Hong Kong through his service on the council."

"The new Exco will continue to have members from a wide spectrum of the community, including the professional services, financial and banking services, business, legal services, labour and political sectors, and academia. The team has been working closely together for the past two years and has an in-depth understanding of developments in Hong Kong.

"I firmly believe that the non-official members will continue to bring to the council views from all sections of the community, and offer sound and insightful counsel to the Administration. This will surely make our policies more responsive to public aspirations and more conducive to the long-term development of Hong Kong," Mr Tsang said.

Leung Chun-ying will again take up the post of Convenor of the Executive Council's non-official members.

Mr Hui was appointed as Chief Secretary for Administration by the Central People's Government on June 30, 2005, to support the Chief Executive in administering Hong Kong. Mr Hui joined the civil service in 1970 and was appointed an Administrative Officer in 1971. He served in a number of branches and departments. In 1995, he was appointed Secretary for Financial Services, a position he held for five years during which he helped strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre.

Having resigned from the Government in June, 2000, he joined the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority as its Managing Director until June, 2003.  Mr Hui has served as the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society (and chairman of its programme committee), the Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited and a member of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society Limited. He received the honour of Gold Bauhinia Star in 1998.