Press Release - June 20, 2002
A series of business and cultural activities organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) to mark the 5th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which started with the Hong Kong Film Festival on June 7, will reach a climax from tomorrow (June 21) to June 30.

The climax will be a seminar on urban planning strategies in Hong Kong and Toronto – “Planning for a Sustainable Growth – The Hong Kong and Toronto Experience”. To be held on Monday (June 24) at 2:30 p.m. at the Members’ Lounge at Toronto City Hall, the seminar provides an excellent opportunity for experience exchange between the planning officials and professionals of the two cities.

With the full support of the City of Toronto, experts and professionals of Hong Kong and Toronto will share urban planning strategies and good practices between Toronto and Hong Kong, both of which are economic engines of their respective regions and are faced with similar challenges arising from need to achieve sustainable growth.

Mr Robert Fung, Chair, Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation and Mr Augustine Ng, Assistant Director of Planning, Hong Kong SAR Government will be the keynote speakers of the seminar. Their topics of presentation are “Toronto as a Portal on the Americas: A Unique Revitalization Strategy” and “Hong Kong’s planning and development strategies and experience” respectively. Other guest panelists include Councillor Joe Pantalone, Chair, Planning and Transportation Committee, Toronto City Council; Ms Beate Bowron, Director, Community Planning, South District, City of Toronto; Mr Glenn Miller, Director of Research, Canadian Urban Institute; Ms Louise Verity, Director of Policy, Toronto Board of Trade and Mrs Rosanna Ure, Director of the HKETO. Mrs Ure will act as the moderator during the panel discussion.

A large-scale infrastructure photo exhibition on “Building a Dynamic Hong Kong” will be opened immediately after the seminar at 5:30 p.m. on June 24. To be held at the Rotunda, Toronto City Hall, the photo exhibition will capture some core infrastructure projects Hong Kong has completed and opened since 1997. The photos will showcase such spectacular projects as the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, the extension of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Tsing Ma Bridge.

The exhibition, which will last until June 30 at the City Hall, will also provide an overview of the HKSAR Government’s plan for major initiatives involving a total investment of CAD$120 billion on some 1,600 infrastructure projects over the coming decade. Planned large-scale projects include new railway lines and bridges, revitalization of urban and rural areas and new developments along the waterfront at West Kowloon, Southeast Kowloon, Central District and Wan Chai.

The photo exhibition will be opened by Senator, the Hon. Vivienne Poy, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, the Hon. Elizabeth Witmer, the Attorney General, the Hon. David S. Young, and Councillor Norm Kelly. They will join the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, in officiating at a reception to mark the HKSAR’s 5th Anniversary.

Preceding the urban planning seminar and the photo exhibition will be an informative investment seminar entitled “Hong Kong – Your Fast Track to China” and a special “Hong Kong Dragon Boat Championship Race”.

Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) and the Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals and Businesses, in association with the Mississauga Board of Trade and the Mississauga Technology Association, the “Hong Kong – Your Fast Track to China” business seminar, to be held tomorrow (June 21) at the Living Arts Center, Mississauga, will focus on the considerable business opportunities available in China after its accession to the World Trade Organization and the advantages of partnering with Hong Kong to enter the China market.

The Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, and other panel speakers will share with Canadian companies their practical advice on the best strategies to expand their business in China. This seminar serves as a prelude to the upcoming “Hong Kong – Your Fast Track to China” trade mission http://www.hketo.ca/trademission.html), organized by the HKETO, Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring Canadian companies to Hong Kong from November 8 to 11.

The weekend of June 22 and 23 will see the four best man’s teams competing for the “HKSAR 5th Anniversary Cup” at this year’s Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival at Toronto Centre Island. HKETO is proud to sponsor the “Hong Kong Dragon Boat Championship Race” which will take place on June 23. Four dragon boats decorated with “Brand Hong Kong” will be used in the races. Besides, HKETO will organize a variety of fun-filled games, such as face painting, quizzes and children’s painting sessions. Unique Brand Hong Kong souvenirs will be distributed at the HKETO booth and the ‘flying dragon” of Hong Kong will be everywhere on Centre Island.

In view of the possibility of industrial action by City staff, which may disrupt the urban planning seminar and the “Building a Dynamic Hong Kong” photo exhibition on June 24, HKETO is making back up arrangement. Guests invited to the two events and the mass media will be notified of alternative venues if Toronto City Hall is unavailable for the events.

(Note to Editors: You are cordially invited to send a representative to cover the “Hong Kong –Your Fast Track to China” investment seminar, the “Hong Kong Dragon Boat Championship Race”, the urban planning seminar – “Planning for a Sustainable Growth – The Hong Kong and Toronto Experience” and the opening of the “Building a Dynamic Hong Kong” photo exhibition)


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].