1.   He said a venture board was one way of promoting Hong Kong as a focal point for high-technolgy firms.

2.   Mr Tsui said a consultation period for the establishment of a venture board for technology stocks will open next month.

3.   Several overseas markets have established venture boards with varying degrees of success.

4.   The proposed venture board is not the only casualty of the market downturn.

5.   THE Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is delaying the start-up date of its venture board because of adverse market conditions, sources say.