Press Release - April 18, 2005

The first annual national Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum, which aims to provide a �smart link solution� to Canadian companies, in particular the small and medium enterprises, in charting their business strategy for China - one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world, will take place in Ottawa on May 30 (Monday).

The �Your Smart Link to China: HONG KONG� forum, to be held at the Ottawa Congress Centre, will offer participants who are exploring business opportunities in Hong Kong and China a comprehensive and informative one-day program, which will discuss various ways to tap into the lucrative China market.

The full-day forum is organized by the eight sections of The Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), and supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Tourism Board. The forum has more than 10 partners, including: The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, City of Ottawa, British Columbia Department of Small Business & Economic Development, I.E. Canada Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters, Information Technology Association of Canada, Manitoba Trade & Investment, Nova Scotia Business Inc., Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation, Ottawa Life Sciences Council, Saskatchewan Trade & Exporter Partnership, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

�Speakers from across Canada and Hong Kong will share their experiences and invaluable knowledge to help Canadian business people identify the right approaches and address the challenges of doing business with China,� said Mr Frank Ling, a Co-chair of the national forum. �This group of speakers includes experienced China traders, economists, and experts from different fields � life sciences, importing/exporting, information, communications and technology, etc.�

Topics to be discussed at the forum cover: �How to take advantage of the Hong Kong business platform to fast track your effort�; �How to allay your fears of China trade and manage the risks�; �How to deal with the IPR (Intellectual Property Rights Protection) and export financing issues�, and �How other Canadian companies have done it correctly and successfully�.

Participants will also benefit from panel presentations and round table discussions on various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies who plan to explore the China market. Topics of such 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�.

One of the keynote speakers, Miss Annie Wu, Executive Chair, World Trade Centres Association, and Vice Chair of Beijing Air Catering Limited, will share her success stories in China with the audience. Miss Wu, one of the most successful Hong Kong business persons in China, established the first joint venture between Hong Kong and Mainland China in 1980. Her China businesses cover not only the airport of the capital city, but reach out to the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in the remote northwest China.

�The emerging China market is reshaping the global economy - Canada and Canadian business should not fall behind others in pursuing the opportunities there,� said Mr Barry Macdonald, National Chair of the HKCBA, and the other Co-chair of the event. �We have to make use of one of our unique assets � our multi-cultural links with Hong Kong and China.�

The forum promises to provide valuable advice and solid examples as to how Hong Kong can be used as the �smart� business platform to the China market. �We encourage Canadian business people from across Canada to take this special opportunity to come to beautiful Ottawa. Our Nation�s Capital is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year!� added Mr Ling.

The Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum is sponsored by the Cathay Pacific Airways, HSBC Bank Canada, Sun Life Financial, Business Development Bank, Export Development Canada, Goodmans LLP, and VIA Rail. Media sponsors include the Canadian Business Magazine, and Ottawa Citizen. The Hotel Sponsor is Ottawa Sheraton Hotel.

For registration and further information on the business forum, please visit: www.hkcba.com/canhkforum




For more information, please contact: Bob Brown, Executive Director of Hong Kong-Canada Business Association at : (416) 366-2642 or
email: [email protected]
Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)924-5544 or email: [email protected]

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