Press Release - May 20, 2005

Want to venture in the rapidly growing China market? According to the federal Minister of International Trade, the Hon James Peterson, a China business plan “is no longer an option for Canadian companies; it’s a must.”

The eight sections of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, are joining hands to present the HKCBA’s first annual national Canada-Hong Kong business forum in Ottawa on May 30.

With the theme “Your Smart Link to China: HONG KONG”, the one-day forum will be held at the Ottawa Congress Centre. “It helps Canadian businesses forge a China strategy, identify the right approaches, focus on the appropriate opportunities, and address the challenges,” said Frank Ling, a Co-chair of the forum. Experts from across Canada and Hong Kong will explain how Hong Kong can be one of the imperative factors in securing business success by providing a “smart link” for Canadian businesses to tap into the China market.

The business forum will include panel presentations and round table discussions on various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies. Topics to be discussed include “Business Opportunities in China – is Canadian Business Meeting the Challenge?”, “Your Smart Link to China: Hong Kong”, “Hong Kong-China: Canada’s New Bio Growth Opportunity” and “Information, Communications & Technology”.

A special presentation on “My Win-Win Road to China: A Hong Kong Entrepreneur’s Story” is to be given by Miss Annie Wu, Executive Chair of the World Trade Centre Association, and Vice Chair of Beijing Air Catering Co. Ltd. Miss Wu established the first joint venture between Hong Kong and Mainland China in 1980. Since then, she has headed 15 joint ventures in China and has been appointed to the Standing Committee of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Experts from the public and private sectors of Canada and Hong Kong will speak on topics like:

- “CEPA & Hong Kong’s Economic Integration” by Mike Rowse, Director General of Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG);
- “ICT Trends in Hong Kong and China” by Howard Dickson, Government Chief Information Officer of the HKSARG (Dickson was the Assistant Deputy Minister Information Management, of Canada’s Department of National Defence before moving to Hong Kong.);
- “Opportunities for Natural Products in Canada’s Healthcare System” by Dr Zul Merali, President and CEO, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research; and Dr John Arnason, Professor of the Department of Biology, University of Ottawa.

Gary Comerford, Vice President, International, of Sun Life Financial, will be delivering a luncheon speech on “Our Launching Pad for Asian Expansion.”

Other interesting topics include: “The Size & Potential of the China Market”; “Challenges & Opportunities for Importers & Exporters”; “IP Rights & Wrongs in the PRC”; “ICT Trends in Hong Kong & China”; and “Canada-Hong Kong-China Tripartite Business Opportunities for Technology Companies”.

Partners of the forum include: the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; City of Ottawa; British Columbia Department of Small Business & Economic Development; Information Technology Association of Canada; Manitoba Trade & Investment; Nova Scotia Business Inc.; Ontario Exports Inc.; Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation; Ottawa Chamber of Commerce; Ottawa Life Sciences Council; Saskatchewan Trade & Exporter Partnership; and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

The national forum, supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Tourism Board, has invited the federal Minister of Industry, the Hon David Emerson, to participate in the opening discussions on May 30.

A pre-forum reception, to be hosted by Senator Vivienne Poy, will be held at the Parliament Hill on May 29. The forum’s sponsors, speakers, moderators, organizing committee members, and HKCBA board members from across Canada will be invited to attend.

The HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum is sponsored by the Cathay Pacific Airways, HSBC Bank Canada, Sun Life Financial, Quam Limited, Export Development Canada, Business Development Bank, I.E. Canada, Goodmans LLP, VIA Rail, and Nelligan O’Brien Payne. Media sponsors include the Canadian Business Magazine, Ottawa Citizen and Rogers OMNI. The Hotel Sponsor is Sheraton Ottawa Hotel, and the Design Sponsor is Era Integrated.

For registration and further information on the business forum, please visit: www.hkcba.com/canhkforum, or call HKCBA at 416-366-2642.

Attention: News Editors

(1) HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum
Pre-Forum Reception

A reception to be hosted by the Hon Senator Vivienne Poy; and Mr Frank Ling, President, HKCBA (Ottawa section), will be held on:

Date/Time:
May 29, 2005 (Sunday) between 5 pm and 7 pm

Venue:
Room 200, West Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa
(Wellington Street at O’Conner)

You are cordially invited to send a reporter/photographer to cover the reception. For security reasons, pre-registration is required.
Pls e-mail: [email protected] or call Ms Judy Mcfetridge at (613) 837-2746 before May 26.

(2) HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum

Date/Time:
May 30, 2005 (Monday) 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Venue:
Ottawa Congress Centre
55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa

You are cordially invited to send a reporter/photographer to cover the full-day forum, luncheon speech, and the special presentation.

For more information, please contact:

Stephen Siu
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
Tel: (416) 924-5544; E-mail: [email protected]

Bob Brown
Hong Kong-Canada Business Association
Tel: (416) 366-2642; E-mail: [email protected]

Click here to download a Chinese version of this press release in PDF format.