China/Hong Kong

About the Group

Objective

The Market Advisory Groups (MAG) will be established as expert panels to review the status of British Columbia’s current commercial relations with select markets in the Asia Pacific and to prepare specific recommendations on actions to increase commercial engagement.

Tactics

Market Advisory Groups will, through special investigations and the creation of regional and select sector-focused working groups, prepare recommendations to government in areas of importance to increasing British Columbia’s commercial success in the designated region.

Market Advisory Groups will focus on areas (sectors, regions, issues and projects) where the actions of the British Columbia government can help to increase the flow of commerce with the specified market.

Market Advisory Groups will meet as required to prepare workplans, conduct investigations, evaluate the findings and recommendations of working groups, prepare interim reports and to produce a final report and recommendations for the consideration by the Asia Pacific Trade Council.

Market Advisory Group Structure

Each Market Advisory Group will consist of an appointed Chair and approximately nine other members recommended by the Chair (appointments subject to Council approval).

It is anticipated that Market Advisory Groups will establish a number of expert working committees to provide detailed analysis and recommendations covering priority sectors.

Market Advisory Groups will be supported by the Asia Pacific Secretariat, which is staffed by the Ministry of Economic Development. Additional support for the Market Advisory Groups will be provided via the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada under a grant from the Province of British Columbia.

Members

Gordon Chu (Chair)

Senior Policy Advisor, Vancouver International Airport Authority

Prior to joining the Vancouver International Airport Authority, Gordon Chu spent 18 years with the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA), including a 2-year posting in Beijing to establish a marketing office. In 2003, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as Canada’s representative on APEC Business Advisory Council and is also a Director of the National Board of Canada China Business Council.

David Choi

President and CEO, Royal Pacific Real Estate Corporation

David Choi is active in real estate and construction material export to China. He serves on the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue Council, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and chairs the CK Choi Foundation. He was also Former Chair, Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

Earl Drake

Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University, David Lam Centre for International Cooperation

Earl Drake was Ambassador of Canada to China, 1987-90; Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific, Department of External Affairs and International Trade, 1984-87; and Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, 1982-83. He is also Vice Chairman, Canada China Business Council.

Johnny Fong

President, International Sources Ltd.

Johnny Fong is active in China trade. He was Co-chair of the Chinese Community Kamloops Forest Fire relief campaign. He is Honourary advisor to SUCCESS, and Honourary chair of the Chinatown Merchants Association, the Canadian Cancer Fundraising Telethon and the National Chinese Canadian Congress. In 2002, he received the BC New-Canadian Entrepreneur Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Rick Franko

Vice President, Export Lumber Sales and Market Development, West Fraser Timber Co

Rick Franko has over 30 years of experience in the forest product sector, with detailed knowledge of the markets in China, Japan and Taiwan. He is Chairman of the U.S. Activities Committee of the Canadian Wood Council, and Co-chair of the Forest Innovation Investment (FII) Market Advisory Committee.

David Koo

Chief Operating Officer, Valles Steamship (Canada) Ltd., Vancouver; Managing Director, Valles Steamship Co. Ltd., Hong Kong.

David Koo has over 20 years of experience in the shipping business. He is Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association; and Director of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association, since 1998. Valles is the first shipping company to re-locate to Vancouver (from Hong Kong) under the International Maritime Centre legislation.

Ken Kwan

Chair, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Ken Kwan has over 30 years in banking, investment and real estate development. He has served as Vice-Chairman of Fairchild Group, and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of StareastNet. He has been the Founding Member and President of CCF Community Care Foundation, and Chair of Walking with the Dragon 2003.

Alban Lo

General Manager, Global Transaction Banking – Trade Finance, Bank of Nova Scotia.

Alban Lo has over 25 years in finance/banking with various postings to Japan, Korea, Singapore, The Philippines and China. He is Chairman, Foreign Trade Committee, Canadian Banker’s Association, BC; Vice-Chairman, Canada China Business Council, BC Chapter; and Vice-Chairman of the Board for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation.

Stephen Pearce

Vice President, Leisure Travel & Destination Management, Tourism Vancouver

Stephen Pearce has worked for Tourism Vancouver since 2003. Prior to this, he served as vice-president, then acting president of Tourism Saskatchewan. He has also participated in a number of international tourism projects. He serves on several committees of the Canadian Tourism Commission including the China National Working Group, the U.S. Committee, and the Branding Committee. He is also a member of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association and the Japan-Canada Association.

Wei Shao

Associate, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Wei Shao specializes in cross border investment and transactions, and is a member of the China Practice Group of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, a national law firm which has offices in Beijing and Shanghai. He has advised Canadian and American companies in the operations in China, including such industries as telecommunications, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, natural resource, services and environment. He has also provided legal advice to government agencies from both Canada and China.

Patrick Wong

Senior Partner, Wong, Robinson & Co., Chartered Accountants.

Patrick Wong has worked previously for an international bank in the export department in Hong Kong starting in 1965. He was appointed as Commissioner and Chair of Fraser River Port Authority in B.C for 5 years prior to be elected. He became a Member of Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2005 and was the B.C.’s Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services. As a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Education, Public Accounts and Finance and Chair of Asia Economic Development Committee, he has actively promoted trade between Asia and B.C. He also served as vice-chair, Vancouver Board of Trade’s Economic Development Committee and the Founding Advisor, Canadian Chinese Business Development Association. He received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his public service in Canada.

Bennie Yung

Founder, Sanyou Electrical Appliances (North America) Inc.

Bennie Yung also started Borealis Academy in 2005, a vocational training school for make-up, esthetics, aromatherapy, modeling and film production. He was Chief Executive Officer of MCL 4th World Chinese Football Tournament. He serves as Board Member of Greater Vancouver Crime Stoppers Association, and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. He is also Director/Treasurer of the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace (POLCYB). He is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal Award.