�Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China�, the first ever trade mission organized by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), in conjunction with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, visited Hong Kong and Southern China from November 8 to 11 2002.

Designed to give Canadian companies an up-to-date perspective on the vast business opportunities China presents and how they can capture the China market by co-operating with potential business partners in Hong Kong, the trade mission attracted a total of 53 delegates of 40 companies/organizations (mainly small and medium enterprises) across Canada from the following sectors, among which five of them were from Alberta (3 from Calgary and 2 from Edmonton):

1. information and communications technology (ICT) (11 companies/organizations; 16 delegates);

2. environment (9 organisations; 14 delegates);

3. biotech (4 organizations; 4 delegates);

4. professional services (9 organizations; 10 delegates); and

5. industrial and others (7 organizations; 9 delegates).

Positive Outcomes of the November Trade Mission

• 12 companies indicated that they have plans to expand into Hong Kong or China in the next 12 months

• 4 companies are actively planning to set up their offices in Hong Kong

• 2 companies have been able to reach business deals during the trade mission

• 17 companies have developed pursuable business leads among which iCORE, an applied research institute (associated with University of Calgary) in Calgary with no prior knowledge about Hong Kong or Asia, has established relationship with University of Hong Kong. A subsequent visit was conducted by another associate in the organisation after the mission. They are now in active discussion to establish student and faculty exchange between the two universities.