Mr. Ng Wai Hung - Honorary Chairman                                   Chairman of SAE Magnetics (HK) Ltd                                   Diamond Patron Member

Mr. Ng Wai Hung graduated from the Hong Kong Technical College in 1976, received his MBA from the Asia International Open University in 1993, elected the Fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science in 2001, and conferred the University Fellow of PolyU in February 2005.

Mr. Ng co-founded SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd. in 1980. Began as a manufacture of recording heads only for floppy disk drives, Mr. Ng has transformed the company to now the largest independent manufacturer of state-of-the-art magnetic recording heads for hard disk drives, having facilities located in HK, China, Japan, and the Silicon Valley in USA. This is in contrast to the fact that most of the companies started up at the time, or thereafter, in the data storage industry had since fallen in victim of the relentless competition of the trade. Commanding more than 30% of the world market, SAE has revenues of USD 1.9 billion in 2003-04 and its products supply to every major disk drive manufacturer around the world. Mr. Ng made the visionary decision in 1986 of merging SAE with TDK Corporation Japan. The merger has proved to be extraordinary successful not only that SAE has since become one of the most profitable business units of TDK Corp. It also allows this very niche high tech industry of magnetic recording to flourish in HK and the Pearl River Delta (PRD).

The accomplishment of Mr. Ng has successfully demonstrated that high tech industry works in HK and the PRD and in turns, it creates substantial amount of wealth and prosperity to the community. As a manufacturer in the region, the company that Mr. Ng co-founded creates jobs (employer of more than 29,000 up to 2^nd quarter of 2004), generates handsome amounts of tax revenue, so on. As a leading company of the industry, the fact that SAE is located in HK and the PRD has made the region a major cluster of suppliers of critical components for the hard disk drive industry. A number of value chains associated with this industry gradually develop following the formation of the cluster, and it is increasingly attractive to disk drive manufacturers, while conventional clusters of the trade like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Philippines struggle to maintain their competitive edge.

The company that Mr. Ng has created is also one of the most important training grounds to develop human capitals for our high tech industry in the future. Firstly, it employs a large number of overseas talents employed from United States, Japan and elsewhere around the world and this is definitely a major source of knowledge diffusion. Secondly, Mr. Ng has also cultivated his company to work closely with institutes and universities for collaborations in applied research and graduate development programs. In addition to the research and development programs with the various universities in HK, its placement program of this year has enrolled more than 40 students, just to name a few commitments that Mr. Ng has help to reinforce in his company.

Mr. Ng plays many active roles in community services. He founded the Hong Kong Critical Components Manufacturers Association (HKCCMA) in 1998 aiming to promoting and lifting the profile of HK and PRD as the primary source of critical components for the global high value added industries. Today, HKCCMA is among the most active trade associations to propose, and to support the various initiatives aiming at revitalizing the industry of HK. Recently, he has also committed much of his time and effort to work closely with HK Productivity Council to develop HK’s auto parts industry as the major partner of the automobile industry of China.

The other capacities Mr. Ng serves the business and professional communities include the Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the Asia Pacific Academy for Productivity and Innovation, the Board of Governors of the East-West Strategic Development Commission, and the council member of the Better Hong Kong Foundation. While the former is to promote science and technology for productivity and innovation in HK & PRD, the latter two capacities are to contribute to the business well-being of HK based on his extensive networks in the local as well as the international arenas.

Mr. Ng extends his community services to the local universities and institutes. He serves the member of the advisory board for various universities in HK including the Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering of PolyU, the Dept. of Electronics Engineering of CityU, and the Engineering Faculty of CUHK. He is also a member for the Court of PolyU involving in setting directions for the University, from his perspectives as the prominent industrialist of the high tech industry. With his profound insight in the industry development of the region, he is always invited to talk to seminars or conferences organized by institutes, universities, professional bodies and the likes.

In Dongguan where SAE operates its manufacturing, Mr. Ng establishes close working relationships with foreign investors and government officials of the City. So much so that he becomes the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Investor Association of Dongguan working for the well beings of the foreign investors as well as the City itself. In recognition of his contributions to the City, Mr. Ng was awarded the Honorary Citizen of Dongguan in 1998. Mr. Ng is also nominated a committee member of the Dongguan Political Consultative Conference (东莞市政协) for the services he is involved with the City development, and for the influence power he commands across the region.