SDB to endorse Ma for top role
THE Sports Development Board is expected to appoint Andrew Ma as its new chief executive after a meeting tomorrow to clarify important procedural matters which were overlooked at the last meeting.
It has been reported that SDB chairman David Gledhill was forced to call off last week's meeting to endorse Ma's appointment because of objections of a lack of information and documents relating the new chief executive.
In a circular sent to SDB board members, Gledhill has taken the advice of Hong Kong Olympic chief A. de O. Sales to change the agenda for tomorrow's meeting and provide the information and procedure taken leading to Ma's appointment.
One source said: 'The question is not the decision to select Ma himself. He will make an excellent chief executive.
'What was wrong was that the way he was appointed ignored proper procedure. Integrity and transparency should be taken into account.' In his circular, Gledhill said: 'For the sake of good order, Mr A. de O. Sales has suggested that the Board meeting scheduled on November 13 1995, be re-instated with the agenda consisting of . . . the ratification by the SDB of the selection panel's recommendation to appoint Mr Andrew Ma as the new chief executive.
'I believe this will be a very short meeting and I regret the short notice.' The SDB Board held a sudden meeting last week to endorse Ma's appointment, with only five members turning up. There were apparent difficulties when a member asked for information on Ma's appointment.
Ma, a member of the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association, will take over in April next year. He was formerly Sotheby's chief in Hong Kong and was also with the Trade Development Council for 25 years.
