Press Release - March 11, 2002

The Director-General of Invest HK, Mr Mike Rowse, today (March 11) introduced Hong Kong�s ideal business environment and excellent investment opportunities to Canadian corporations in Montreal and urged them to capitalise on Hong Kong�s unique position as the gateway to China to establish a business presence in Asia�s world city.

Mr Rowse, who spearheads Hong Kong�s inward investment promotion, said at a business luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association: �Hong Kong offers an ultimate business environment and investment opportunities geared for corporations from around the world to set up their offices and operations.�

�Hong Kong�s proximity to Mainland China and its leading cities; its central location in Asia; its position as world�s leading business and finance center; its state-of-art infrastructure; its independent judiciary; its rule of law; low and simple tax regime as well as its level-playing field for all are the distinctive advantages available in Hong Kong for overseas investors,� said Mr Rowse.

In addition, China�s accession to the World Trade Organization has given Hong Kong a number of positive factors that will add to its fundamental strengths as Asia�s world city. These include enhancing Hong Kong�s intermediary role in the trade, investment and communications sectors between the Mainland China and partners around the globe; capitalizing Hong Kong�s knowledge and contacts in China and capturing opportunities in such professional services areas as legal profession, accounting and auditing, finance, construction and management.

Mr Rowse arrived at Canada last night for a two-day visit as part of his North America business trip. He spent the first day of his two-day visit by meeting major corporations in Montreal, including Bombardier, to discuss future investment ventures in Hong Kong.

Earlier this morning, he met the National Chair of Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Mr. Max Brotman, for a discussion on Hong Kong-Canada business co-operation.

He will continue his business trip in Toronto tomorrow (March 12) and will meet such Canadian corporations as Sun Life and Proponix on prospective business collaborations. He will also meet the local chapter of Hong Kong-Canada Business Association.

Mr Rowse will leave for the United States tomorrow evening.

Before his current posting, Mr Rowse was the first Commissioner of Tourism in Hong Kong since 1999 when he led the negotiations with the Walt Disney Company, resulting in the signing of the agreement of the world�s fifth Disney theme park location in Hong Kong. He was also the recipient of the PRWeek Communicator of the Year Award 2001.


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 Office, [email protected].