Press Release - April 24, 2002
Hong Kong�s ideal location, its experience in doing business with China and the world, its excellent network in the Mainland, as well as its status as an international financial center and the world�s freest economy, are some of the advantages which make the city the premier gateway for Canadian businesses to fast track to the China market, the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), Mrs Rosanna Ure, said today (April 24).

Speaking at a press conference in Toronto, Mrs Ure told the media that the HKETO, in conjunction with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), is planning a trade mission to bring Canadian companies to Hong Kong in November.

Also attending the media briefing were the National Chair of the HKCBA, Mr Mac Brotman, the Director of the HKTDC, Mr Andrew Yui, and the Senior Marketing Executive of the HKTB, Ms Karisa Lui.

�With the theme 'Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China', the trade mission is 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,� said Mrs Ure.

With China�s accession to the World Trade Organisation, there has been a rapid surge of interest from companies in Canada to look for business opportunities arising from the further opening and deregulation of the China market.

�Tapping the China market requires time and expertise. Hong Kong, with its ample experience in China trade and its extensive business network in the Mainland, is an ideal partner for Canadian businesses which want to establish a foothold in the lucrative China market quickly,� she said.

The Hong Kong Canada trade mission, to be held from November 8 to 11, offers a comprehensive programme for Canadian companies seeking business opportunities in Hong Kong and Mainland China. In addition, it provides networking opportunities for Canadian and Hong Kong companies to form partnerships. A side-trip to southern China will be organized for Canadian companies to see, at first hand, joint venture operations there.

One of the unique characteristics of this mission is that participants will be asked to give detailed information on their business, their strategy and the kind of business partners they are looking for in Hong Kong. Pre-mission business matching will begin once the information is available. Companies will have the chance to communicate with their prospective partners before they go to Hong Kong. More in-depth discussion and negotiation will follow in Hong Kong in November. This arrangement will expedite the process and make the visit to Hong Kong a much more productive one.

�We aim to recruit Canadian companies from sectors such as information communication technology and biotech (including bio-pharmaceutical, environmental and agri-food). Companies engaging in financial services, tourism/entertainment and educational services are also welcome. We believe that the advantages that Hong Kong offers to overseas businesses are unique and that there is no better way to tap the China market than going to China with Hong Kong and through Hong Kong,� Mrs Ure added.

Participating companies will attend general and sector-specific briefings and workshops conducted by senior Hong Kong government officials and business representatives, networking activities with potential local partners, a visit to the Pearl River Delta as well as a luncheon jointly organized by the organizers and the Hong Kong Venture Capital Association.

The 'Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China' trade mission has the full support of Report On Business Television and Fairchild TV as its media sponsors. Both TV stations will accompany the delegation to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific Airways has also pledged its support as the official carrier of the trade mission.

For details of the trade mission, please visit www.hketo.ca or contact Ms. Shirley Wong, Principal Consultant (Investment Promotion) of the HKETO at (416)924-5544 (Ext. 213) or email [email protected].


For more information, please contact:
John Tam, Chief Information Officer of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at:
(416) 924-5544 or email: [email protected] or
Elison Chu, Senior Information Office, [email protected].