The CEO of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, Jacob Kam Chak-pui, will take the reins as chairman from January next year, tasked with leading the rail giant with added momentum to boost the city’s development and integration with mainland China.
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The government, the company’s majority shareholder with a stake of about 75 per cent, announced his promotion on Tuesday, saying Kam, 63, would succeed Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, 73, for a three-year term until the end of 2028.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan highlighted the importance of the MTR Corp and said it was the backbone of Hong Kong’s public transport system with more than 5 million passengers daily.
Kam was expected to draw on his extensive experience in leading the firm in applying innovative technologies to continuously enhance the safety, efficiency and reliability of Hong Kong’s railways, the government said.
“And uphold the MTR Corp’s mission of ‘keeping cities moving’, such that railway infrastructure can be leveraged to add momentum to Hong Kong’s development and cross-boundary integration with the mainland,” it said.
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Chan also thanked Auyeung for his contributions since taking up the chairmanship in July 2019 at a time when social unrest hit Hong Kong, pointing to the firm’s network expansion through projects such as the Tuen Ma line and the East Rail line cross-harbour extension.
The MTR Corp said Kam would lead the board in ensuring effective management and oversight of the company’s business affairs, formulating corporate strategy, establishing the governance structure and evaluating the performance of executive directors.