Green group has hopes for first local director
FRIENDS of the Earth is likely to have its first Chinese director from March.
Mrs Mei Ng Fong Siu-mei, a member of the group's board of governors, has been asked to take over.
Although she has yet to accept the offer, she has increasingly taken on a leadership role since Mr Peter Illig resigned last month.
Mrs Ng organised the group's successful educational programme and she is widely respected within and outside of Friends of the Earth.
If she takes the job, she will be the green group's third director in as many years.
The group was criticised in the past for being too expatriate-oriented and not building a stronger presence among local people. Board chairman, Ms Mary Riley, said they hoped to change that perception.
''We want to devote a lot more time and energy to the Chinese community than we have in the past and having a Chinese director would very much help,'' she said.
Mrs Ng was good at motivating people and getting programmes up and running, and she got on well with both community groups and government officials, added Ms Riley.
Mrs Ng joined the group three years ago and put together a pre-school education programme that she successfully promoted here and in Guangzhou.
Ms Riley said the board preferred appointing someone from inside because the quick change-overs in the past two years had disrupted staff and activities.
Mr Illig, 32, an American environmental lawyer, will leave at the end of next month, exactly one year after he took over from Mr John Parker.
Mr Parker also stayed in his post for one year, having taken over from the group's founder, Ms Linda Siddall, who was director for eight years and remained on the board of governors.
Ms Riley said Mr Illig did not always see eye to eye with the board, as he was more interested in global environmental issues than local ones.
But she and Mr Illig stressed there were no hard feelings.
Mr Illig yesterday said he had no conflicts with the board. He was leaving to return to work in the private sector.
''It was great working with Friends of the Earth. It was a lot of fun and invigorating,'' he said.
''Now I intend to go back to environmental consulting, where I feel my skills and talents are best utilised.'' He said he had options to return to the United States or remain in Asia but had not made a final decision.
Ms Riley said it was hoped Mrs Ng would take on the director post with Mr Henry Morritt, the current campaign officer, acting as her assistant. She said the two had worked well together in the past.
