The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (SARG), Mrs Anson Chan, today (January 19) started off her day of activity with a power breakfast in Ottawa.

Although the city's temperature was in the sub-zero range, Mrs Chan was given a warm reception by prominent Canadians, including corporate executives, senior government officials and media executives. Those attending included Ambassador for Canada's Year of Asia Pacific, Mr. John Bell, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Donald Campbell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loram Corporation, Mr. Ronadl Maurix, the President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Mr. Marcel Masse, Supreme Court Judge, Madame Justice Beverley Mchachlin, and th Publisher of Ottawa Citizen, Mr. Russell Mills.

The breakfast meeting, hosted by the Business Council on National Issues (BCNI), took place at the exclusive Rideau Club at the heart of the Canadian capital.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, the Director of Information Services, Mr Thomas Chan and the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Mr Donald Tong also attended the breakfast meeting.

Mrs Chan is leading a promotion called "Hong Kong l Canada '98" to Ottawa and Toronto. The 12-day tour of US and Canadian cities is also the first promotion mounted in North America by the SARG since the return of sovereignty last July.

Following the breakfast, Mrs Chan and her party called on the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Donald Campbell. At the meeting, Mrs Chan gave Minister Campbell an update on the latest situation after the handover and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

During lunch at the Hotel Chateau Laurier, Mrs Chan delivered a keynote address to an audience of nearly 200, mostly business and community leaders and senior government officials. The luncheon was organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Ottawa Section.

Later in the afternoon, the Chief Secretary called on the Canadian Finance Minister, Mr Paul Martin, and discussed, among other things, the latest financial and currency situation in Hong Kong and other Asian cities.

Mrs Chan flew to Toronto in the evening. The highlights of her programme tomorrow (January 20) includes a luncheon speech for 400 plus guests organised by the Canadian Club, Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto), Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. In the evening a 500 plus people gala dinner will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Mrs. Chan will also meet with the chief executives of more than 20 banks and large corporations at an informal gathering in Toronto Club. She will also call on Chairman of the Standing Committee of the House of Commons on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Bill Graham.