Press Release - May 29, 2006

The Canadian Province of Manitoba today (Monday) proclaimed this week as "Hong Kong Week in Manitoba" to mark the long-established and active relationship with Hong Kong, and the "Hong Kong Family" members including the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada , Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA).

The proclamation, which was jointly signed by Manitoba�s Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, the Hon. Eric Robinson; and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, the Hon. Scott Smith, was officially announced by Minister Smith to the 300 delegates from across Canada attending the 2006 HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

"As a result of the Province of Manitoba and Hong Kong�s business and cultural ties, it is deemed appropriate that a special week be proclaimed," said the Hon. Smith. The highlights of the Hong Kong activities in Manitoba during the week also include "The Heritage of Hong Kong" display at the Winnipeg Millennium Library, and the national board meeting of the eight sections of the HKCBA.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day business forum, Manitoba Deputy Premier, the Hon. Rosann Wowchuk, recalled the experience of her 2004 visit to Hong Kong and Mainland China as the leader of a provincial trade mission. "I saw firsthand the potential that exists there," she said.

"As Agriculture Minister, I saw opportunities in food industry, animal and plant genetics, agriculture equipment and systems, and technology transfer arrangements," said the Hon. Wowchuk. "As Deputy Premier, I also saw the bigger picture � and the opportunities in power and energy, environmental protect, commodities, education, machinery, professional and financial services, and immigration."

"China, including Hong Kong, is currently one of our largest trading partners � and with its rapidly growing industrial base, there is much opportunity to expand this relationship," she said. "There is, in fact, room for many relationships and linkages that will benefit both Western Canadian and Chinese businesses."

"Just as Hong Kong is the gateway to China, so is Western Canada the gateway to the rest of Canada," the Deputy Premier concluded.

Also speaking at the forum, Mr Bassanio So, Director of the HKETO, said the Winnipeg forum, which is the second annual forum presented by the HKCBA after last one in Ottawa, had attracted many Canadian business people who would like to know more about the latest development in China and how Canadian companies could participate in it "through a very user-friendly platform � Hong Kong".

"Being the international financial centre of China and Asia�s world city, Hong Kong benefits from riding on the China wave," he said. "We are not only the gateway for foreign companies to invest or do business in China; we are also the window through which Chinese companies invest in or do business with foreign countries."

"For Canada, Hong Kong assumes a stronger role. We are not just a gateway for Canadian companies to do business in China; we are indeed Canada�s beachhead in China," Mr So said, citing that fact that Hong Kong is the largest recipient of Canadian foreign direct investment in China, and the second largest investor in Canada from the Asia-Oceanic region.

This year�s national business forum in the leading city of Canada�s Prairie Provinces is the result of the joint effort of the eight HKCBA sections in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

It presents the key elements that Canadian businesses need to know in exploring the rapidly growing markets in China, including using Hong Kong as a platform to other parts of China and South East Asia. In addition, the forum also showcases Western Canada�s best capabilities to serve that market and tell the participants how to work cooperatively with Hong Kong and Chinese companies.

With the theme "Your Smart Link to China: HONG KONG", the business forum discusses various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies. They include: "The Mutual Gateways of Hong Kong & Manitoba", "Matching the China Need & the Prairie Capability", and "Challenges & Opportunities in Logistics, Transportation and Business Style".

Senior representatives and trade experts from the public and business sectors share their winning strategies and success stories in fast-tracking into the China market. They discuss ways to remove some of the potential risks and anxieties that some Canadian business people have.

The forum�s speakers include: Steve Alexander, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC; David McNamara, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong; Ian McNabb of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; Simon Gaplin, Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong; Dale Botting, President of Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership; Ms Elizabeth Thomson of ICS Trust (Hong Kong); Paul Deprez of Manitoba Environmental Industries Association/ Nordevco; Randy Stoyko of Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives; Philippe Lacamp, Vice President of Cathay Pacific in Canada; Michael Rodyniuk, Senior Vice President of Winnipeg Airports Authority; Ms Mona Ip, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou, China; and Craig Chapman, Partner of Long Term Asset Management, etc.
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For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)456-8623(cell) or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, at (416)924-5544 or email: [email protected]

Manitoba Minister of Intergovernment Affairs and Trade, the Hon. Scott Smith, today (Monday) officially proclaims this week as the west Canadian province's "Hong Kong Week." Picture shows (from right to left) Minister Smith; the Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, former Manitoba Premier and Canadian Governor General; Steve Alexander, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Ken Wong, President of the Winnipeg Section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA); Barry Macdonald, National Chair of the HKCBA; Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz; Bassanio So, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, and Simon Galpin, Associate Director-General of Invest HK at the proclamation ceremony.

Mr Mei Ping, the former China's ambassador to Canada, in his capacity as the Chair of China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, is attending the 2006 HKCBA National Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum in Winnipeg with a eight-member delegation from China. The delegates include industrialists and entrepreneurs from Beijing, Shanghai, Quanzhou and Nantong, etc. Picture show Mr Mei (2nd from right) chatting with Mr Bassanio So (2nd from left), Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, and Mr Simon Galpin (left), Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, at the forum.

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