Challenging task: Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says the Provisional Minimum Wage Commission will advise the Chief Executive on the initial statutory minimum wage rate to be adopted.

Teresa Cheng has been appointed Provisional Minimum Wage Commission Chairman while 12 people from the labour, business and academic secors, and government departments, have been named commission members.

The appointments take immediate effect and end upon the establishment of the statutory commission.

Non-official members are Dr Michael Chan, Prof Leonard Cheng, Thomas Kwok, Kwong Chi-kin, Lau Chin-shek, Lee Kai-ming, Prof Liu Pak-wai, Caroline Mak, and Prof Ng Sik-hung.

Government representatives are the Permanent Secretaries for Labour & Welfare and Commerce & Economic Development (Commerce, Industry & Tourism), and the Government Economist.

Challenging mission

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung thanked the chairman and members for accepting the posts.

"The provisional commission is mainly tasked to advise the Chief Executive on the initial statutory minimum wage rate to be adopted on the basis of an evidence-based approach and with a view to ensuring a sensible balance between forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs while sustaining Hong Kong's economic growth and competitiveness."

Mr Cheung said Ms Cheng possesses extensive professional knowledge in various fields and has a distinguished record of public service.

"I am confident under her leadership the provisional commission will work in an objective and balanced manner in making its recommendation on the initial statutory minimum wage rate, and will fully take into account the empirical findings of surveys as well as the views of various stakeholders."

The Labour Department will provide secretariat support to the provisional commission and will arrange for the commission's first meeting as soon as practicable.