Press Release - June 24, 2002

Toronto and Hong Kong tackle their issues with different tools and methods and there is much to be learnt from each other, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Mrs Rosanna Ure, said today (June 24).

Speaking at the opening of the �Planning for Sustainable Growth � The Hong Kong and Toronto Experience� urban planning seminar organized by the HKETO to mark the 5th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mrs Ure said both Toronto and Hong Kong were powerful economic engines of their respective regions and both are currently under tremendous pressure to house an ever-increasing population and busy economic activities.

�At the same time, there are calls for preserving the natural resources and heritage as well as achieving sustainable development. Faced with these issues, both Hong Kong and Toronto have to find ways to cope.

�Though it may not be practicable, or indeed desirable, to transplant the solutions from one city to another, such sharing of experience is invaluable to the improvement of our quality of life. With the support of the City Government, this seminar has brought those who are concerned about the future of the two cities together to share our planning experience, strategies and aspirations.�

Attending the seminar as keynote speakers were Mr Robert Fung, Chair of Toronto Waterfront Revitalisation Corporation and Mr Augustine Ng, Assistant Director of Planning, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Speaking on the topics of �Toronto as a Portal on the Americas: A Unique Revitalisation Strategy� and �Hong Kong�s planning and development strategies and experience�, both Mr Fung and Mr Ng covered a wide range of planning and city development issues from waterfront development, public transportation, sustainability to financial plans and global positioning for Hong Kong and Toronto.

On the part of Hong Kong�s presentation, Mrs Ure said: �Not only do we want to share with you our experience in the past and our aspirations for the future, but we also want to present to you the tremendous business and career opportunities arising from our current and future development projects.

�We are not just sharing our success with you, we want you to be part of it.�

On HKETO�s role, Mrs Ure said: �We are from Hong Kong but we are also a part of Canada. We watch both cities� development closely and we feel we are in a unique position to build more bridges between the two cities.�

Noting both cities want to realize their potentials, and the citizens expect more efficient transportation, more affordable housing and cleaner environment, she said the HKETO hoped, by organizing this seminar, to bring Hong Kong and Toronto closer, create synergy and make our cities the ideal places to do business and to raise our families.

Today�s seminar also featured a panel of distinguished guests including Councillor Joe Pantalone, Chair, Planning and Transportation Committee, Toronto City Council; Ms Beate Bowron, Director, Community Planning, South District, City of Toronto; Mr Glenn Miller, Director of Policy, Toronto Board of Trade and Mrs Rosanna Ure who also acted as the moderator during the panel discussion.

More than 80 participants from various sectors in Toronto, from leading academics, business leaders, city councillors, professional planners and architects to students from universities and professional institutes participated in the seminar. The seminar is organized as part of the business and cultural activities organized by the HKETO to mark the 5th Anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR since its reunification with China on July 1, 1997.


For more information, please contact John Tam, Chief Information Officer of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at (416) 924-5544 or e-mail: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, at [email protected].