Honourable Chairman, distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, May & Baker, Singapore is proud to play a part in organizing and hosting this symposium. I hope that it is not necessary for me to intro­ duce myself, as Singapore doctors have received my letter of invitation and overseas delegates have received my letter of welcome. It is my very pleasant duty to introduce our Director of Research, Dr J. A. McFadzean, who has come specially to grace this occasion. Dr McFadzean, Sir, may I invite you to say a few words to this gathering of distinguished participants. TanJoo Hock VUl Welcome It is my privilege on behalf of May & Baker to welcome you here today. We have representatives from nine countries - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Sweden and UK. It is appropriate that this Symposium on Cervagem be held in South-east Asia where so much excellent development work was done with this product. Cervagem has resulted from many years of collaborative research and development between May & Baker and the Ono Pharmaceutical Company of Japan. It has been a most happy collaboration from the time the active ingredient ONO-802 was synthesized by the Ono Company. You will hear today of the stage we have reached with the R&D work.