Press Release - September 21, 2006

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, Mr Bassanio So, today (Thursday) met with Mayor Peter Kelly of Halifax to discuss different means to forge the business links between Hong Kong, Halifax and other key cities in Canada�s Maritime Provinces.

Mr So told Mayor Kelly that he had detected growing interest among companies in Atlantic Canada to expand their market to China since his last meeting with the Mayor about a year ago. He cited the example of the China-based China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) signing an agreement with the Port of Halifax to further develop sea trade between China and the eastern part of Canada.

On the business relationship between Hong Kong and Canada, the HKETO Director mentioned that business people in Nova Scotia had conducted a very successful trade mission to Hong Kong and China last fall, noting that an ther Halifax trade delegation will be going to Guangzhou later this year. "Such trend indicates that companies in Atlantic Canada have a very strong interest in expanding to the Hong Kong and China market," he said.

Mr So also extended an invitation to the Mayor, inviting him to visit Hong Kong to witness its development since the changeover and its economic integration with south China.

Prior to the meeting with Mayor Kelly, the HKETO Director spoke at a business seminar on �Latest Opportunities in Hong Kong and China�, talking about the advantages of using Hong Kong as a platform to enter the China market. The seminar attracted representatives from more than 70 companies in Halifax.

Yesterday, Mr So met with Nova Scotia�s Minister of Economic Development, Mr Richard Hurlburt, to update him on Hong Kong�s latest initiatives in developing its information technology and biotechnology.

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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)924-5544 or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, at [email protected]

Photo shows (2nd left) the Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, Mr Bassanio So, presenting a souvenir to (2nd right) Mayor Peter Kelly of Halifax after the meeting. Also present at the meeting were (far left) Immediate Past President of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Halifax Section), Ms Bonnie Kirby, and (far right) Regional Director, Americas, of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Stephen Wong.

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