Press Release - February 20, 2004
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Mr Bassanio So, today (February 20) met the Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs & Trade and Minister responsible for International Relation Coordination, the Hon MaryAnn Mihychuk and the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, the Hon. Tim Sale, to update them of the latest developments in Hong Kong.

More specifically, Mr So briefed the Ministers of the �Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement� (CEPA) signed between Hong Kong and Mainland China and how Canadian companies can be benefited by this free trade agreement to gain faster access to the Mainland China market.

In the morning, Mr So attended a breakfast seminar organized in conjunction with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Winnipeg, where he briefed the local business community of the excellent opportunities available for Canadian businesses in Hong Kong and China. Mr So advised interested Canadian companies to partner with Hong Kong to make good use of the CEPA benefits to enter the huge China market.

Accompanied by his Deputy, Mr Kenneth Cheng, the HKETO Director arrived at Winnipeg yesterday for a two-day visit to renew friendship and foster closer ties between Hong Kong and Manitoba.

Earlier yesterday (February 19), Mr So met with Deputy Mayor Dan Vandal, City of Winnipeg and Mr Stuart Duncan, CEO of Destination Winnipeg, City of Winnipeg Economic/Tourism Development Agency and updated them of the latest economic situation in Hong Kong.

He also met with Mr Graham Starmer, President, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce and visited the University of Manitoba.


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].