Press Release - February 19, 2002

A delegation of Hong Kong Legislative Council Members, led by Dr Hon Lui Ming-wah, visited Ottawa yesterday and today (February 18 and 19), and met with Government officials in charge of environment, health, industry and technology as well as foreign affairs.

The delegation was also briefed by the Conference Board of Canada on its research projects on economic forecast and environmental issues and by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on Canada�s business overview.

At the Parliament Hill, the delegation had meetings with the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and the House Standing Committee on Environment, and was warmly received by the Canada Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Group. The delegation also called on Mayor Bob Chiarelli.

Other members of the visiting delegation include Dr. Hon. Philip Wong Yu-hong, Deputy Leader; Hon. Chan Kwok-keung; Hon. Tommy Cheung yu-yan, Hon. Fred Li Wah-ming, Hon. Michael Mak kwok-fung and Hon. Yeung Yiu-chung.

The delegation had useful exchanges with various receiving parties on issues of mutual concern to Canada and Hong Kong, such as air and water pollution, waste management, health care reform, IT development and business-labour relations.

The delegation noted the current debate on health care issues in Canada and considered the debate very thought-provoking. The briefing by Industry Canada officials on Canada�s initiatives to connect Canada was informative, and the delegates were particularly impressed by the Canadian Government�s effort in delivering e-services to its citizens and achieving higher transparency through the use of the internet.

�The visit to Ottawa has been a great success,� said Dr Lui. �The delegation benefits very much from the in-depth experience sharing with the various receiving parties on a number of important issues close to the hearts of both Canadians and Hong Kong people. Although Canada and Hong Kong have different political, economic and social environments, we found that we did have a lot to learn from each other.�

At the reception hosted by the Canada Hong Kong Parlimentary Friendship Group, Mr Bryon Wilfert, MP, Chair of the Group, said he was glad that the delegation�s visit to Ottawa renewed the friendship between the parliamentarians of Hong Kong and Canada. In the meeting with Mayor Bob Chiarelli, the delegates received a briefing on the division of responsibilities between the municipalities, the provincial governments and the federal government.

Thanking the hospitality extended by the Mayor and members of the Canada Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Group, Dr Lui invited them to visit Hong Kong to have a first hand look at the smooth implementation of the �One Country Two Systems� principle. Mr Wilfert will visit Hong Kong early next month.

The delegation will visit Toronto from tomorrow (February 20) to Friday (February 22), during which they will have meetings with both the city and the provincial governments as well as business, social and cultural organisations.


For more information, please call: 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].