Association History

The Association started out as the Hong Kong Exhibition Organisers Association
which was founded in May 1990 by 10 major exhibition organisers to provide
industry members with a unified voice in negotiations with the government and
government-related organisations and for the general betterment of business
interests of members.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & SUB-COMMITTEES

From May 1990, once every two years, a new 15-member Executive Committee is elected by Full Members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Starting from 2008, the Executive Committee is expanded to 19 Members. The Chairman, the Vice-Chairmen, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer are elected by the Executive Committee at the first Executive Committee Meeting held immediately after the AGM. The Committee meets regularly (every two months) to make major decisions for the Association.

Various Sub-committees are formed to focus on specific projects and activities such as China, Communications, Contractors, Education & Training, Environmental, Industry Strategic Marketing and Membership Committees; and also the organization of Overseas Missions and Annual Dinner.

PAST & PRESENT CHAIRMEN

The five past and present Chairmen of the Association are industry visionaries who have overseen HKECIA's development and have led the Association through its various stages of development to the strong industry voice it is now.

2002-2010: Mr Stanley Chu, Chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.		2000-2002: Mr Louis Cheng, Managing Director of Pico International (HK) Ltd.
1998-2000: Mr Michael Duck, Senior Vice President of CMP Asia Ltd.		1996-1998: Mr Arthur Spurdle, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong Ltd.
1990-1996: Mr Derek Dickins, Managing Director of Hong Kong Trade Fair Ltd. (now CMP Asia ), was the Founding Chairman and Honorary Life President in honour of his chairmanship for the first three consecutive terms.

STEADY GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION

As the association progressed and developed, it's Memorandum and Articles of Association were amended in July 1992, allowing for the expansion of its scope of membership to include convention organisers and industry suppliers. Renamed and with a new role in the rapidly expanding exhibition & convention industries, the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Organisers & Suppliers Association Limited (HKECOSA) came to life in 1992.

Bringing together all companies representing the industry, HKECOSA built a much stronger position to exert its influence in the right quarters, always keeping member's business interests at the forefront of the Association's activities. In 2003, the Association was renamed as Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) to reflect the member base of the Association.