Caption Story - February 21, 2007
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada), Mr Bassanio So, had a meeting in Ottawa with the Hon. St�phane Dion, who was recently elected as the 11th leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Mr Dion was the Environment Minister under former Prime Minister Paul Martin. In that position, he helped prepare Canada for the challenges of a sustainable economy and played a key role in developing the greenest budget since Confederation.

During the meeting held on Wednesday (February 21), the two discussed about the strengthening of the relations between Canada and Hong Kong. Mr So emphasized on the importance of Hong Kong as Canada�s Asia Pacific partner, especially with the presence of 250,000 of Canadian passport holders in the Special Administrative Region. He added that with 150 Canadian companies operating in Hong Kong, and another 450 companies being represented there, it makes Hong Kong the largest Canadian overseas business community in Asia.

Mr So also briefed the Official Opposition Leader the successful implementation of �One Country, Two Systems� after the handover, and the major events to be organized across Canada to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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Picture shows Mr Bassanio So (left), Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada), meeting the Hon. Stephane Dion (right) in his Ottawa office.

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