About prominent people in Vancouver, including senior government officials, diplomats, business executives and community leaders, academics and journalists this evening (February 11) attended a colourful Chinese New Year Reception and RCMP Send-off Ceremony hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Among the guests attending were senior government and city officials, bankers, academics, business/community leaders and journalists.

On hand to brighten up the occasion were a contingent of RCMP officers - 17 of them from the E Division Ceremonial Troop and 13 members of the Pipes and Drums unit - performed a ceremonial march for the guests.

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Canada, Mr Donald Tong and the Hong Kong Tourist Association's Director of East USA, Canada and South America, Mrs Aliana Ho, inspected the guard of honour.

Together with 57 other groups and floats, the RCMP officers will be taking part in the Cathay Pacific Chinese New Year Parade in Hong Kong on New Year's Day on February 16. The RCMP have participated in the annual event in Hong Kong in the previous two years..

During the occasion Mr. Tong also took the opportunity to introduce the new Deputy Director of the office, Mr. Eddie Cheung, the successor to Ms. Maureen Siu who is leaving after a three year stint in Toronto.

In welcoming the guests to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, Mr Tong hoped that the Year of the Rabbit would be calm and free from serious turmoil.

He said according to Chinese folklore a rabbit simply leaps over obstacles in his or her path and recovers from calamities with remarkable resilience.

"As you are aware the Year of the Tiger has been a very ferocious and turbulent one, not just for Hong Kong but for other regional economies as well," Mr Tong said.

"Although we believe that 1999 will remain difficult , this has not deterred us from adopting and introducing many measures aimed at cushioning the downturn and speeding up the recovery process.

"These include investing C$50 billion in the next five years on education, C$47 billion between now and 2002 on infrastructure projects and diversifying towards the development and application of technology and innovation in all industrial and service sectors.

"We are also aware that our economic recovery is influenced by external factors beyond our control, in particular the problems facing Japan. However, there are positive signs emerging lately. Our property and stock markets have stabilised. Interest rate has been pared several times, wguke increasing number of tourists are visiting Hong Kong.

"I should add that two reputable organisations have also come up with positive assessment of our economy. Both the International Monetary Fund and the OECD have predicted that our economy will show signs of recovery in 1999."

During the two hour reception, a photographic exhibition entitled "Hong Kong Advancing into the New Millennium" was also held.

For further information please contact Chief Information Officer, Frank Chuan at telephone no. (416) 924-5544 or Information Consultant at (604) 331-1300.