Press Release - December 7, 2004

Delcan International Corporation has become one of the shining examples among Canadian companies using Hong Kong as a launching pad and teaming up with Hong Kong and international partners to win contracts in Hong Kong as well as to expand their projects into China.

Based in Toronto and with a branch office in Hong Kong, Delcan International today (Tuesday) announced at a reception held at the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) that the company, in partnership with GCE Services (Hong Kong) Limited, and Imtech Projects BV of the Netherlands, had won a CAD$42.5 million (HK$255 million) contract for the design, development, and implementation of a traffic control and surveillance system along the 13.5-km Route 8 from Tsing Yi to Sha Tin.

The contract was signed between Delcan International Corporation and its joint venture partners, and the Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government. When completed, the Route 8 system will be one of the largest traffic and surveillance system ever implemented in Hong Kong.

Mr Joseph Lam, Delcan�s Executive Vice President, said because of the company�s success in Hong Kong, it had been taking up several major projects in China as well, and his staff in Hong Kong had to shuttle often nowadays between Hong Kong and Beijing for projects related to the 2008 Olympics. The projects that Delcan International has completed in China include the Foshan-Kaiping Expressway Toll, Communication and Traffic Control Systems in Guangdong Province, and the Jieshou-Fuyang-Bengbu Toll Highway Feasibility Study in Jiangsu Province, etc.

Speaking at the reception, HKETO Director Mr Bassanio So, told the guests that Hong Kong offered Canadian companies distinctive advantages to excel their businesses in the world-class city and to extend their antennae into China.

He said the HKSAR Government was committed to continue investing heavily in transport infrastructure development to maintain its position as a regional transport and business hub. �The ambitious transport infrastructure development programme involves a total investment of about CAD$50 billion, including some CAD$33 billion investment in railway projects and another CAD$13.5 billion investment on road projects,� he said.

However, Mr So reminded the Canadian companies who consider the 'Go-East' strategy that they should not be eyeing on the Hong Kong market alone, as there was a much bigger market up north � the Mainland China.

'The rapid economic development in China generates substantial and persistent demand for quality engineering services,� he added. �Many Mainland investors prefer using Hong Kong�s engineering services to support their Mainland projects because of the knowledge of the Mainland market, the strengths of Hong Kong companies in respect of quality control, management and technical skills.'

While the HKSAR Government welcomes talents from around the world to play a part in Hong Kong�s infrastructure projects, Ontario Exports Inc. is also increasing its efforts to promote Ontario businesses and is poised to expand into new emerging global markets, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the Hon. Joseph Cordiano, pointed out at the reception.

'Ontario products and services are top notch, and that Ontarians have a tremendous capacity for innovation and knowledge. Our government wants this known far and wide,' said Minister Cordiano. 'That�s why we are leading an aggressive push beyond our traditional trading partners by vigorously promoting the Ontario brand worldwide. And the Asian market is a priority.'

'And our government is committed to helping all industries succeed so they can do more than just compete with the best in the world. But in fact, outpace them,' he added.

The reception was jointly organized by the HKETO, Delcan International Corporation, and Ontario Exports Inc, the export development agency of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Delcan is a top transportation systems engineering consultant in North America with particular expertise in traffic control and surveillance software development and integration. Over the years, Delcan has successfully completed many transportation system projects in Hong Kong, including Lantau Fixed Crossing, Western Harbour Crossing, Route 3 Country Park, Tai Lam Tunnel, and Chek Lap Kok Airport, etc.

Over 35 engineers and engineering staff will be employed by the joint venture in Hong Kong to handle the Route 8 project.


For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416) 924-5544 or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, [email protected]

Click here to download a Chinese version of this press release in PDF format.