Press Release - October 28, 2005

A five-part TV documentary co-produced by Rogers OMNI Television and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board will premiere this Sunday at 9:00 pm on Toronto�s OMNI Television.

The series, entitled �The Hong Kong Connection � Canada and the New China�, combines footage shot in Hong Kong, China and Canada with the acumen of experts and the skills of an international crew to focus on the burgeoning �tripartite� economic and cultural relationships.

Commenting on the documentary, the HKETO Director Bassanio So said, �Canada has the enviable advantage of strong economic and social ties with Hong Kong.� There are about a quarter of million of Hong Kong residents holding Canadian passports, and about 1.1 million of Hong Kong citizens have close family links to Canada.

Mr So said, �These strong ties have nurtured the ever-growing and vibrant economic partnership between Hong Kong and Canada, with many Canadian businesses using Hong Kong as their gateway to China, and Chinese companies using Hong Kong as their springboard to Canada.

�Hong Kong, indeed, is Canada�s bridgehead in China�, he added.

Each 30- minute episode of �The Hong Kong Connection � Canada and the New China� builds bridges among Hong Kong, China and Canada that it profiles by looking at a different aspect of current dealings.

This groundbreaking production, hosted by Toronto Star�s Tony Wong (English version) and veteran news anchor David Wang (Cantonese version), will cover such areas as:

- Canada�s contributions to the economic development of both Hong Kong and China;
- Hong Kong�s position as one of the world�s leading economic and business centres through its proximity and access to Chinese markets;
- Hong Kong�s tourism and entertainment trades as they attract and affect Canadians.
- Various industries that are not only prospering in their homeland but also having an impact on Canadian society.

Starting this Sunday (October 30) for five consecutive weeks, �The Hong Kong Connection � Canada and the New China� will be shown on OMNI 1 and OMNI 2 in English and Cantonese language respectively:

Episode 1 -- October 30
Opening Doors: Canadian success stories in Hong Kong

Episode 2 -- November 6
The global powerhouse: Canadian trading and manufacturing business in Hong Kong and China

Episode 3 �- November 13
The Launching Pad: Goodmans, Phancorp and PBB

Episode 4 � November 20
�Lights, Camera, Action�: Animation artist Raman Hui, Seneca College, Hong Kong Filmart

Episode 5 � November 27
�Gateway Gateway�: Hong Kong as a vacation attraction to Canadians



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, [email protected]

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