Chapter 19: Special Events

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, visited Washington DC in July, updating top officials in the new U.S. Administration and congressional leaders on latest developments in Hong Kong.

Mr Tung met President George W. Bush at the White House, and had a meeting with the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell. He also had talks with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Mr John Kerry; the Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Mr David Dreier; and Congressman Doug Bereuter. A Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Richard Armitage, hosted a lunch in honour of Mr Tung.

In his meetings, Mr Tung emphasised the HKSAR Government's commitment to upholding the 'one country, two systems' principle, the rule of law and the freedoms guaranteed in the Basic Law. In addition, he briefed the leaders on how Hong Kong was recovering from the effects of the Asian financial crisis. He also expressed appreciation of President Bush's intention to extend Normal Trade Relations status for China for another year, and welcomed the United States' support of China's early accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Visiting San Francisco later, the Chief Executive took the opportunity to meet members of the city's large Chinese community, and also to issue a statement, on behalf of the HKSAR, congratulating the people of the Mainland on Beijing's successful bid to stage the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, visited the United States in September, on his first overseas duty visit since taking up the post in May. He began his visit in Los Angeles, and then moving on to New York and Washington DC. In Washington, Mr Tsang met the Secretary of State, Mr Powell, shortly after the terrorist attacks in New York and the capital, and his expressed his shock and sympathy. After the meeting, Mr Tsang said Mr Powell had expressed admiration for Hong Kong's development since reunification in 1997. Mr Tsang also had meetings with Congressmen Jim Leach and Doug Bereuter, and General Brent Scowcroft, a National Security Adviser in previous U.S. Administrations. In addition, he had meetings with executives of two think tanks, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and its President, Mr John Hamre, and the American Enterprise Institute, as well as with the Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr Tom Donohue.

In New York, Mr Tsang was the keynote speaker at a business luncheon co-organised by the Asia Society and New York HKETO in association with the China Institute, Hong Kong Association of New York, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the National Committee on U.S.—China Relations. In his address, Mr Tsang highlighted the significance of developing closer links between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Mr Tsang also met members of various think tanks, including the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Council on Foreign Relations, and editors of a number of New York-based newspapers and magazines.

While in New York, Mr Tsang christened a Circle Line Ferry with the new Brand Hong Kong dragon logo and colours at the South Street Seaport. The Brand Hong Kong sightseeing ferry sailed in New York harbour up to the end of the year, carrying about 28 000 tourists on cruises around Manhattan. The gala christening event was organised by the New York HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The dynamic dragon was introduced from May at a series of receptions for think tank members, the media and the business community as well as at dragon boat festivals in New York, Boston and Atlanta and corporate sail events in Baltimore, Boston and New York.

The Chief Secretary began his programme in Los Angeles as guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. The next day, he gave a keynote address at a luncheon organised by the San Francisco HKETO and co-sponsored by the Asia Society Southern California Centre, Hong Kong Association of Southern California, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Town Hall Los Angeles. Other functions included a breakfast meeting hosted by the Pacific Council on International Policy, a briefing by the UCLA-California NanoSystems Institute on developments in the field of nanotechnology, and a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation. He also met the Mayor of Los Angeles, Mr James Hahn, and a former US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher.

While in the city, Mr Tsang was the officiating guest at a 'Hollywood-style extravaganza' promoting Hong Kong as a prime tourist destination in Asia, organised by the San Francisco HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Entitled 'Experience Life in Asia's world city,' the function, held at Paramount Studios and attended by more than 400 guests, featured the Hong Kong's new visual identity, and highlighted the attractions that the SAR has for visitors.

During the year, a number of bureau and department heads visited the United States. They included the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, who visited Washington DC in July, meeting senior officials of the State Department, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Moving on to San Francisco, Mrs Ip spoke at a luncheon seminar organised by Stanford University and at a luncheon organised by the Pacific Council on International Policy. The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Joshua Law, visited Washington DC in February for meetings with members of Congress and officials from the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In June, the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, led a Hong Kong delegation to attend a conference on 'Health Care, East and West, Moving into the 21st Century' in Boston, organised by the Chinese Medical Association and Harvard University. The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Mike Rowse, visited New York and Boston in October, meeting executives from various corporations and the media.

Besides hosting a reception in May to introduce the new Brand Hong Kong to congressional staff members and the business and media communities, the Washington ETO staged a number of promotional events. In April, it co-sponsored a classical musical performance highlighting Hong Kong's talented musicians at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. During the summer, the office and the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art presented the sixth annual Made In Hong Kong film festival that showcased the diverse talents of Hong Kong film-makers.

As part of the San Francisco HKETO's ongoing proactive strategy in reaching out to prospective investors contemplating overseas expansion, the Director-General of Investment Promotion visited companies in southern California and the 'Silicon Valley' in July to promote Hong Kong as an investment destination.

On the technology front, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Francis Ho, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation's delegation visited the 'Silicon Valley' in June for the signing ceremony of the first three 'Silicon Valley' tenants for the Science Park.

The San Francisco HKETO organised a Hong Kong Neon film week in co-operation with the Film and Television Archive of the University of California at Los Angeles to promote Hong Kong cinema and the film industry. Eight films were featured, and well received by the audiences.

In Canada, the Toronto HKETO held receptions in Toronto and Vancouver in June to promote Brand Hong Kong. The Secretary of State (Asia Pacific), Mr Rey Pagtakhan, and the Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Mr Jim Flaherty, were invited to officiate at the reception in Toronto. Officiating at the reception in Vancouver was the Minister of State for Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Greg Halsey-Brandt, on behalf of the newly elected Liberal provincial government. Activities to promote the new visual identity were well received. These included exhibitions, game stalls and a Brand Hong Kong face-painting kiosk at the Toronto international dragon boat festival, and panels at the Chinese Cultural and Community Centre in Winnipeg. Plans were in hand to promote the brand in other Canadian cities such as Calgary and Montreal and to sustain the impact in Toronto and Vancouver through various activities.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the ETO, a two-week Hong Kong Arts Festival was presented in Toronto. It comprised Living in Hong Kong — Past and Present, a photographic exhibition depicting life in Hong Kong over the past 50 years; a Hong Kong Spotlight presentation of four films in the Reel Asian International Film Festival; a film-maker's seminar; the Hong Kong Ballet's performance of The Last Emperor and a special screening of a vintage film.

Among officials visiting Canada during the year, the Secretary for Health and Welfare attended the 2001 Conference of the International Association of Gerontology in Vancouver in July. Dr Yeoh took the opportunity to meet the British Columbia Minister of Mental Health and the Executive Director of the BC Health Industry Development Office as well as the Chair of the College of Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners of British Columbia to exchange views on regulation of TCM practitioners. In the same month, the Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan, visited Toronto and Vancouver after attending a World Health Organisation conference in Ottawa. The main focus of the exchanges was on TCM practice and education.

The Secretary for Economic Services, Ms Sandra Lee, visited Toronto in September to update the Canadian business community on Hong Kong's development as a logistics and transportation hub and a world tourist destination. In addition to meeting representatives from the Airport and Port Authorities, the transportation and tourist industries as well as the Ontario Transport Ministry at a round-table luncheon, Ms Lee met the media to brief them on the latest developments in Hong Kong. The E-government Co-ordinator, Mr Michael Stone, visited Ottawa in the summer to meet senior Canadian Government officials responsible for the provision of E-government services to businesses and the public. The Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr Allan Siu, led a Hong Kong delegation to attend the 'Softworld 2001' in Vancouver in November. During his visit, Mr Siu attended a ceremony in which the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association and the Wireless Innovation Network of British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a partnership to promote wireless technology practice between member companies of both associations. In May, the Commissioner of Insurance, Mr Benjamin Tang, visited Toronto to meet representatives of major Canadian insurance companies, self-regulatory organisations, the Ontario financial services regulators, business correspondents and academics.

The Chief Secretary for Administration made his first official visit in the post to the United Kingdom and continental Europe in November, meeting a wide cross-section of political and business leaders in London, Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg. The main focus of the trip was to provide an update on Hong Kong's latest economic development, highlight the successful implementation of 'one country, two systems' and explain the opportunities in Hong Kong following China's entry into the World Trade Organisation.

Beginning his visit in London, Mr Tsang met the British Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott; the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg; the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Mrs Patricia Hewitt; the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Edward George; and other leading political figures including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Iain Duncan Smith. He delivered a keynote speech at the annual dinner of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and addressed two luncheons, hosted by the Royal Institute of International Affairs and the Hong Kong Association, respectively.

Moving on to France, Mr Tsang had meetings in Paris with President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Mr Laurent Fabius. While in the capital he took formal delivery of the Government's new helicopter fleet, which will comprise eight French-made machines. Mr Tsang then proceeded to Brussels where he met the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Laurette Onkelinx, the European Commission Vice-President, Mr Neil Kinnock, and attended the initialling ceremony of a bilateral agreement between Hong Kong and the European Union on the readmission of persons (this agreement followed a EU decision in March to grant visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders). Mr Tsang's next stop was Luxembourg, at the invitation of the Luxembourg Government. He met the Prime Minister, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mrs Lydie Polfer.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, made his first official visit to London, Berlin, Frankfurt and Brussels at the end of June. In London, he called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, and had meetings with the Governor of the Bank of England, the Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Mr Howard Davies, and other leading figures in the business and finance communities. Mr Leung also attended a luncheon hosted by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir David Howard, and delivered a keynote speech at the three-yearly Dragon Boat Dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Association. As part of the campaign to position Hong Kong as Asia's world city, Mr Leung officiated at the launching of Brand Hong Kong at a reception attended by more than 600 leading businessmen, politicians, senior government officials as well as representatives from the financial services, cultural, diplomatic and media sectors in London.

In Frankfurt, Mr Leung met the President of the European Central Bank, Mr Wim Duisenberg, and in Berlin he met the German State Secretary for Finance, Mr Caio Koch-Weser, as well as the Parliamentary State Secretary for Economics and Technology, Mr Siegmar Mosdorf. In Brussels, Mr Leung had talks with the Belgian Minister of Finance, Mr Didier Reynders, and met the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Mr Pedro Solbes, and the Commissioner for Competition, Mr Mario Monti. Mr Leung also officiated at the opening of the new Hong Kong ETO premises in Brussels.

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Elsie Leung, visited the United Kingdom in March to attend the World Women Lawyers Conference, organised by the International Bar Association, and spoke at a discussion session on 'Women's Rights as Human Rights'. She also attended a round-table discussion luncheon hosted by the London HKETO with think tank members, academics and senior businessmen and addressed the Oxford University Asia Pacific Society on the continuity of Hong Kong's legal system.

The Secretary for Security visited Paris to make the opening address on September 5 at the Plenary Meeting of the Financial Action Task Force Against Money Laundering, of which Hong Kong assumed the Presidency in July (the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Clarie Lo, took the chair as President). The Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mr Alan Lai, visited Berlin in October and met the Vice President of the German Bundestag, Dr Hermann Otto Solms, and the Parliamentary Secretary of State for the Interior, Mrs Brigitte Zypries.

In May, Brand Hong Kong was launched in Brussels, Denmark and the Netherlands during the visit of the Secretary for Economic Services. The Brand was also launched at the Cannes Film Festival by a group of Hong Kong film stars and directors, and in Hamburg and Luxembourg by the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Mr Christopher Jackson.

In June, a Hong Kong Film Festival, organised by the HKETO with the assistance of the Film Services Office, was held in Brussels. The 12 films in the programme played to full houses. A similar film festival organised in Berlin during the Asia-Pacific Weeks in September was equally successful. Other cultural events organised by the Brussels HKETO during the year were Hong Kong Vision, an exhibition of photographs held in Hamburg, Luxembourg and Brussels, a Hong Kong Food Festival in Brussels and a performance by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Berlin.

At the invitation of Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief Executive visited Japan on March 20-23, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, and the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam. During the visit, Mr Tung had meetings with the then Prime Minister Mr Yoshiro Mori, as well as the ministers for foreign affairs; economy, trade and industry; and economic and fiscal policy and information technology. He also met various business leaders.

In honour of the Chief Executive, the Tokyo HKETO hosted a business luncheon, which was attended by over 450 prominent guests. Mr Tung and other senior officials also visited the Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama to study the latest environmental technologies being applied in Japan.

The Information Coordinator, Mr Stephen Lam, was the guest of honour at a business seminar organised in Osaka by the Tokyo HKETO in November. Speaking to over 400 guests, Mr Lam gave an account of the implementation of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong and highlighted Hong Kong's latest political development, the proposed accountability system in the Government and Brand Hong Kong.

To launch Brand Hong Kong, the Singapore HKETO hosted receptions in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, in May and June. The new visual identity for the HKSAR was well received by the audiences.

Senior officials visiting Singapore during the year included the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph Wong, who attended meetings of the Civil Service College Board of Governors in February and August. During his visits, Mr Wong took the opportunity to meet Hong Kong students studying in Singapore. He also visited the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and received briefings on E-government and service improvement initiatives undertaken by the Info-Communications Development Authority. The Secretary for Health and Welfare attended the First National Disease Management Conference in May. During his visit, Dr Yeoh delivered a luncheon speech on the 'Evolution of Health and Welfare in Hong Kong in the New Millennium'.

The Director-General of Investment Promotion visited Singapore in March to brief senior business executives on the advantages of doing business in Hong Kong. Mr Rowse also addressed a luncheon co-organised by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore HKETO on investment opportunities in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Insurance visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in January and March, respectively. Mr Tang delivered two speeches on Hong Kong's role as a regional insurance centre at luncheons organised by the Singapore HKETO. Leading a delegation, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Francis Ho, visited Singapore in September to share experience with officials and industry professionals on policies and programmes in promoting science and technology. Elsewhere in the region, a delegation led by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Dr Lam Hung-kwan, attended the 57th Session of the Ministerial Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok in April.

During the year, the Singapore HKETO participated in Information Technology exhibitions in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to showcase the HKSAR's Digital 21 IT Strategy, the Electronic Services Delivery Scheme, the Interactive Government Services Directory and the Cyberport project. In other activities, the office supported the Xposition O Contemporary Dance Fiesta 2001 in December, in which the School of Dance of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts made its debut in Singapore by staging a contemporary dance performance.

In March, the Secretary for the Civil Service visited Sydney, Canberra and Wellington to study the civil service management systems and public sector reforms in place in the Australian and New Zealand governments. Mr Wong and his delegation met the heads of the public service commissions in the two governments as well as other senior officials involved in public sector management. While in Sydney, Mr Wong took the opportunity to give a briefing on the work of the Administrative Service in the HKSAR Government to a gathering of university students. He also met members of the Australian Chinese press to brief them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.

At the invitation of the New Zealand Government, the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mrs Fanny Law, visited Auckland and Wellington in August. She met the Minister of Education, Mr Trevor Mallard, as well as education officials to exchange views on education developments in both Hong Kong and New Zealand and to explore opportunities for co-operation. Mrs Law also called on the Minister of Social Services and Employment, Mr Steve Maharey, and the officials of the Department of Labour to discuss matters related to manpower and employment. While in Wellington, Mrs Law delivered a keynote address at the 10th New Zealand International Education Conference. As part of that conference, Mrs Law discussed possible co-operation with New Zealand education providers in the areas of teacher development and student exchange.

In September, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Grenville Cross, led a delegation of senior prosecutors from Hong Kong to participate in the Sixth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors in Sydney. Besides addressing the delegates, Mr Cross also chaired the Asia/Pacific Regional Forum at the conference. During his stay, Mr Cross addressed a group of business leaders, legal professionals and media representatives on 'Hong Kong After 1997 — One Country, Two Systems' at a luncheon organised by the Sydney HKETO.

In November, the Information Coordinator visited New Zealand and Australia to promote Hong Kong's new global Brand. During his visit, Mr Lam addressed gatherings of senior corporate executives, local community leaders and the media in Auckland and Brisbane and gave an update on Hong Kong's prospects in the current economic climate, as well as elaborating on business opportunities in Hong Kong for Australian and New Zealand companies.

Also in November, the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Rebecca Lai, visited Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia at the invitation of the Australian Government. Mrs Lai met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, and officials from the federal as well as state tourism authorities. She also visited major tourist attractions in Sydney, the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth. While in Sydney, Mrs Lai spoke at a business luncheon organised jointly by Sydney HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board during which she gave an update on measures in place to enhance Hong Kong as a tourism hub.

During the year, the Sydney HKETO hosted a number of receptions, breakfast briefings and luncheons in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland to launch Brand Hong Kong. An exhibition on 'Hong Kong: Asia's world city' was staged at Darling Harbour in Sydney and attracted over 2 500 people. A three-week film festival featuring an exclusive array of Hong Kong films was presented in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in October to showcase the HKSAR's film industry and promote cultural exchanges with Australia.