Promoting Hong Kong Overseas

Europe

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, visited London and Paris in November to renew ties with political and business leaders there and to brief them on Hong Kong's latest economic, political and social developments.

In London, Mr Tung met the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and stressed Hong Kong's importance as a business hub, underlining the significance of Hong Kong as the leading platform for British companies wanting to enter the enormous and fast-growing Mainland market. The Chief Executive delivered a keynote speech at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Annual Dinner and officiated at the finale of the Hong Kong — Live It, Love It! promotion organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). He also attended a concert presented by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra at the Natural History Museum.

In France, Mr Tung had discussions with President Jacques Chirac in an hour-long meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, and held separate meetings with the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Mr Francis Mer; senior members of the Government, and business leaders. He also visited the Confucius at the Dawn of Chinese Humanism exhibition at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Art.

Also visiting Europe during the year were the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph Wong, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, and Mr Henry Tang, then Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology.

Mr Ma visited London, Frankfurt and Zurich in July as part of the Economic Relaunch Campaign to promote Hong Kong post-SARS. Mr Ip took the relaunch message to London, Denmark and the Netherlands in September in the course of a visit aimed at promoting Hong Kong's logistics and maritime services as well as its position as the premier hub port of Asia.

Mr Wong visited Brussels in Belgium and Salzburg in Austria in June, his visit coming after Hong Kong had successfully contained the SARS outbreak and been removed from the World Health Organisation's (WHO) list of areas with recent local transmission of the disease. He also attended the three-day programme of the Salzburg Seminar, a prestigious international educational centre.

As Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Tang visited Brussels in January, having useful exchanges on further cooperation with a number of Belgian Government ministers, and representatives of European institutions. In March, he led a business delegation of information and communications technology executives from Hong Kong on a visit to Ireland, Germany and Finland.

Dr Ho visited London in February to exchange views on heritage preservation with policy-makers and expert advisers on the subject. He inspected a number of heritage sites, and hosted a pre-concert reception for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's European debut at the Barbican Hall.

North America

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, visited the United States in September to promote Hong Kong's role as an international business hub and the ideal strategic partner for accessing the Mainland market.

In Washington DC, Mr Tsang met the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, to discuss the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle, developments on Article 23 of the Basic Law, measures to counter any future outbreak of SARS and Hong Kong's cooperation in the global fight against terrorism. In New York and San Francisco, Mr Tsang delivered keynote speeches at business lunches and launched the Hong Kong — Live it, Love it! promotion. He also met members of the think tank communities and briefed editors of major media organisations.

The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, visited Boston in April to speak at the Harvard China Review's sixth annual conference on 'Transition: Exploring China's Path Forward'.

The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, attended the 2003 Leadership Summit and the 33rd International Hospital Congress in San Francisco in August. During his visit, he spoke at a business luncheon, on 'Hong Kong: Ensuring a Healthy Climate for Business'. Dr Yeoh also met the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mr Tommy Thompson, and the Director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Julie Gerberding.

During the year, the New York HKETO continued to publicise Hong Kong at the various dragon boat festivals held in New York, Atlanta and Boston as well as at the Canoe 2003 World Championship held at Lake Lanier, Georgia. The Washington HKETO also organised a number of events to promote Hong Kong, including the eighth annual Made in Hong Kong film festival co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art.

In Canada, messages on Hong Kong's Economic Relaunch Campaign and the Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) formed the main thrust of the Toronto HKETO's promotions across the country which, like Hong Kong, was seriously affected by SARS.

In recognition of the selfless medical and health care workers in Hong Kong and Canada involved in the fight against SARS, the office supported a nation-wide signature campaign organised by the alumni associations of the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Hong Kong Baptist University in Vancouver and Toronto, with the backing of the HKTB, the HKTDC, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto and the Community Coalition Concerned About SARS in Toronto.

The Chinese media in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal also supported the two-week signature campaign by helping spread the message throughout the community. The campaign won the support of the Ontario Health Ministry, the Health Ministry of British Columbia and hundreds of major business corporations, chambers of commerce and trade associations, resulting in over 11 000 signatures being collected in support of the health care workers.

A Hong Kong Film Festival, entitled 'Gems from Asia's Hollywood — A Retrospect of John Woo' was launched in Toronto in early June as the first promotional event to relaunch Hong Kong in Canada after the SARS outbreak. Featuring a selection of eight of the best earlier works of John Woo, the series symbolised the 'Hong Kong Spirit' in overcoming adversity. The film festival was also held in Calgary and Vancouver.

The Toronto HKETO launched its first ever large-scale promotional event 'Hong Kong and Quebec City — Friendship and Partnership' in Quebec City in August to inform the business community about Hong Kong's business opportunities under the CEPA framework. The popular promotion was extended to Montreal in October.

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Elsie Leung, paid her first official visit to Canada in November to enhance ties between Hong Kong and Canada. Her six-day visit covered Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver where she met government officials, think tank members, legal professionals, academics and local Chinese business and community leaders. The visit proved useful in updating Canadians on the successful implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle, the rule of law and constitutional development in Hong Kong as well as the business opportunities created by CEPA.

North Asia

The Chief Secretary for Administration visited Seoul in October to promote Hong Kong's role as an international business and financial hub and a strategic partner for accessing the Mainland market. During his visit, he called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, Mr Kim Jin-pyo, and delivered a keynote speech at a business luncheon organised by the HKTDC. Besides briefing business and finance leaders, he officiated at the opening of the Hong Kong — Live It! Love It! tourism promotion and the opening ceremony of a Hong Kong Film Festival.

Mr Henry Tang, now Financial Secretary, addressed the first investment environment seminar jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Guangdong authorities in Tokyo in October, focusing on the opportunities under CEPA for Hong Kong and Japanese companies. He also called on the Minister of State in charge of Financial Services, Economic and Fiscal Policy, Mr Heizo Takenaka, and the Governor of the Bank of Japan, Mr Toshihiko Fukui.

The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour led a delegation of leading representatives of the shipping industry to Tokyo and Imabari in September to promote Hong Kong's maritime industry and the Hong Kong Shipping Register. The new Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, visited Seoul in October as head of the HKSAR delegation in the investment environment seminar there jointly organised by the HKSAR and Guangdong Governments. The Secretary for Home Affairs visited Tokyo in November to launch a 'Hong Kong Week' campaign, an economic relaunch project.

South-East Asia

The Chief Executive attended the 11th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 20-21 at which the leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to finalising the current round of global trade negotiations known as the Doha Development Agenda. While in Bangkok, Mr Tung had a meeting with President Hu Jiantao. He also held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Thaksin Shinawatra; the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong; and the President of Chile, Mr Richardo Lago Escobar.

Preceding the Economic Leaders Meeting, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology attended the APEC 15th Ministerial Meeting held in Bangkok. The Secretary also delivered a speech at the CEO Summit on intellectual property rights protection. In September, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury attended the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Phuket, and gave an address on 'Regional Bond Market Development'.

The Chief Executive, as a main member of China's delegation, travelled to Bangkok in April to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — China Leaders' Special Meeting on the SARS outbreak. Mr Tung had a meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao and briefed him on the latest situation in the fight against the disease in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive and the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food also had a meeting with the WHO's Executive Director for Communicable Diseases, Dr David Heymann, and updated him on the proactive steps Hong Kong had taken to fight SARS.

The Secretary for the Civil Service attended the Civil Service College Advisory Panel Meeting in Singapore in January. In the same month, the Secretary for Home Affairs also visited Singapore and exchanged views with officials on policies relating to heritage preservation, promotion of arts, culture and sports, football betting and community development.

In June, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food attended the WHO's Global Conference on SARS held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr Yeoh told delegates about Hong Kong's strategy and achievements in containing the outbreak.

The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in August. In Kuala Lumpur, Mr Ip visited the Multimedia Super Corridor in Cyberjaya and in Singapore he inspected air freight and container terminal facilities. While in the Malaysian capital, Mr Ip officiated at a 'Hong Kong Gala Dinner' being held as part of a series of Hong Kong Welcomes You fairs staged in various capital cities to publicise Hong Kong post-SARS, and emphasise it continued to be an attractive destination for tourists and business travellers. The Chinese Music Ensemble of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) performed at the dinner to showcase Hong Kong's culture and talented young musicians.

The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food visited Manila in September to attend the WHO Western Pacific Meeting. The same month, the Secretary for Home Affairs visited Manila for a meeting of the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. Dr Yeoh also led a delegation to Singapore in November, meeting health officials and sharing experiences in the control measures taken against SARS and other communicable diseases. The delegation visited the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore's dedicated hospital for SARS patients. The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour also visited Singapore in November, and signed an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement on Shipping Income and Air Services Income with the Government.

In summer, the Singapore HKETO in collaboration with the HKTB and the HKTDC staged a Hong Kong Welcomes You fair to publicise how Hong Kong was moving forward as a vibrant place in which to live and work, post-SARS. The fair featured a Brand Hong Kong Photo Exhibition, a demonstration of traditional Hong Kong craftsmanship, and cultural performances led by students of the HKAPA. Hong Kong Welcomes You fairs were also held in Manila and Bangkok.

Australia

In September, the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs visited Australia and updated Australian Government officials, business leaders and the media on developments in Hong Kong, including the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle and constitutional development. He also had meetings with members of two think tanks, the Asia-Australia Institute and the Gilbert and Tobin Centre for Public Law.

In October, as part of the Economic Relaunch Campaign, the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour visited Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to promote Hong Kong as a leading business hub and tourist destination in Asia. Mr Ip delivered a keynote address at two business conferences in Sydney and Melbourne. He also officiated at the launching of the Hong Kong Food Festival organised by the HKTB.

In November, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology visited Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, where he met a number of political and business leaders, as well as media representatives and briefed them on business opportunities in Hong Kong, especially following the signing of CEPA.

He visited the IT Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Victoria and toured the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne and the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.