Press Release - February 4, 2004

The Hong Kong Wushu Delegation � the biggest Hong Kong cultural group organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to visit Canada in recent years - was met with rousing welcomes in Calgary today (Feb. 4) when it started its 10-day visit to promote closer Hong Kong � Alberta ties.

Led by the Permanent Secretary for the Home Affairs of the HKSAR Government, Ms. Shelley Lee, the 30-member delegation arrived yesterday afternoon amid warm greetings by representatives of the Calgary community despite the cold weather condition.

Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) of the HKSAR Government, the delegation is tasked to spread the �Relaunch Hong Kong� message as Hong Kong�s Goodwill Ambassador and to update Canadians of Hong Kong�s revival after the SARS challenge last year.

Accompanied by the HKETO Director, Mr. Bassanio So, the delegation started the day�s visit itinerary by visiting the Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens Association where members of the Delegation met more than 100 Chinese elderlies and Calgary citizens of varying ages for demonstration and lessons on the basic skills of Taichi and experience sharing about the benefits of physical exercises at a workshop session.

The visit itinerary next took the delegation to the Calgary Mayor�s office for a courtesy call on Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

In honour of Permanent Secretary Shelley Lee and the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation, Mayor Bronconnier hosted an official reception and met with delegation members to convey to them the best wishes on behalf of the City Government of Calgary.

In response, Ms. Shelley Lee thanks Mayor Bronconnier for the hospitality and warm welcome given to the Hong Kong delegation.


Updating the Calgary Mayor about Hong Kong, she said: �Hong Kong is back to normal after SARS and is now as vibrant as ever. After some difficult time, our economy is now experiencing a rebound, with unemployment falling, deflation easing and property market stabilizing.

�With the introduction of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with Mainland China and the individual visits of Mainlanders to Hong Kong, business in Hong Kong has revived and tourists are flocking in, boosting sales and consumer confidence. We have experienced a new buoyancy in our city and this will provide a launching pad for closer and stronger collaboration between Calgary and Hong Kong in both social and economic ties.�

Both Ms. Lee and Mayor Bronconnier hoped that the visit of the Wushu delegation would further strengthen the already close relationship between Calgary and Hong Kong and would provide a driving force for future exchanges in sports and culture.

Members of the delegation met with representatives of the local martial arts organisations at a reception later in the afternoon.

They will call on the Alberta provincial government and join the HKETO in launching the annual Hong Kong Promotion in Calgary at Chinook Centre tomorrow.

The Hong Kong Wushu Delegation�s visit to Calgary and Edmonton is fully supported by the Fairchild Media Group, the Edmonton Scotia Bank, the Wing Kei Nursing Home, Bethany Care Centre, United Way of Calgary and the University of Alberta�s School of Business.

The �Hong Kong- Alberta Wushu Spectacular� promotion is sponsored by Eikowada Performance Outwear System, Hutchison Harbour Ring and Kappa.


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 Officer, [email protected].