Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) has appointed Christine Wong to succeed Mary Kao as its Head of Legal Services and Chief Counsel upon Ms Kao's retirement on 31 July 2010.  To ensure a smooth transition, Ms Wong will join HKEx on 10 June 2010. 

Shortly before reaching HKEx's standard retirement age in the third quarter of last year, Ms Kao agreed to continue in her current role until the end of July 2010.  She joined The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) as Head of Legal and Secretarial Services and Chief Counsel in July 1990 and became HKEx's Head of Legal Services and Chief Counsel in July 2000 after SEHK became a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKEx. 

Ms Wong has over 20 years of experience in the legal and regulatory fields.  She is currently a consultant at Linklaters.  Prior to joining Linklaters in May 2001, Ms Wong was Senior Director of Corporate Finance at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), where she was actively involved in numerous market consultations on corporate finance and listing-related matters.  She also provided advice on the demutualisation of SEHK and Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited and the subsequent listing of HKEx.  Since October 2005, Ms Wong has been a member of the SFC's Takeovers Panel and Takeovers Appeal Panel.

Ms Wong attained an LLB degree from The University of Hong Kong before qualifying as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 1988 and in England and Wales in 1991.

"Mary has made valuable contributions over the last 20 years to the development of the Stock Exchange and HKEx," said HKEx Chief Executive Charles Li.  "She has provided excellent legal advice and played an important role in safeguarding the interests and reputation of the Exchange and HKEx.  We wish her a happy and healthy retirement.

"Christine has extensive experience as a lawyer and a regulator, and I believe her sound knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment in which HKEx operates will be instrumental to the future growth and development of HKEx and its markets," said Mr Li.