He has been an independent non-executive director of the Company since 20 November 1996. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London and is a Solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong, a China-Appointed Attesting Officer and a Notary Public. Mr Lau is the Senior Partner of Messrs. Chu & Lau, Solicitors & Notaries. Mr Lau is currently an independent non-executive director of Glorious Sun Enterprises Limited (Stock Code: 393), Yuexiu Property and Joy City Property Limited (Stock Code: 207). The shares of the companies mentioned above are listed on the Stock Exchange. He is also a director of Bank of China Group Insurance Company Limited, BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited, Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited, OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited, Sun Hon Investment & Finance Limited, Wydoff Limited, Wytex Limited, Trillions Profit Nominee & Secretarial Services Limited, Helicoin Limited, Wyman Investments Limited and Cinda Financial Holdings Co., Limited. Mr Lau served as the Chairman of the Central and Western District Board between 1988 and 1994, the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong in 1992-1993, a Member of the Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee between 1988 and 1997 and a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1995 to 2004 (between 1997 and 1998 he was a member of the Provisional Legislative Council). He has served as a Standing Committee Member of the 10th, 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.