Press Release - June 21, 2007

Over 30 business people from Quebec province gathered in Saint-Sauveur today (Thursday) listening to a presentation entitled “Canada’s Bridgehead in China: How Hong Kong can help Canadian companies doing business in China”, given by the Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, Mr Bassanio So.

The half-day business seminar was organized by the Quebec Chinese Economic, Educational and Cultural Exchange Centre. Among the participants were the Regional Director of Immigration Quebec, Louise Trudeau, and Mr Pierre Urquhart, Vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of La Vallee de Saint-Sauveur. Mr So said Hong Kong is not only the third largest trade entity in Asia, it is also a gateway to China and other Asian markets. He cited the strong links between Hong Kong and Canada – over 500 Canadian firms and 50 regional headquarters of Canadian companies are being operated in Hong Kong; and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is one of the largest Canadian business associations in Asia.

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Picture shows Mr Bassanio So, Director of the HKETO, speaking at the business seminar. (From left) Mayor Michel Lagace of Saint-Sauveur, Mr So, and Ms Shelley Lee, President of the Quebec Chinese Economic, Educational and Cultural Exchange Centre.

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