Press Release - May 29, 2002
Hong Kong remains committed to invest in its infrastructure and human resources, and to continue its success story as �Asia�s world city�, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Mrs Rosanna Ure, said today (May 29) in Toronto.

To mark the 5th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since the reunification of Hong Kong with China in 1997, HKETO will organize in June a series of five cultural and business events in Toronto.

Speaking at a press conference, Mrs Ure said: �Entitled �Hong Kong: The Success Story Continues�A Tribute to Mark the 5th Anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR�, the activities will feature the business and cultural aspects of Hong Kong which include its major infrastructure developments, its distinctive advantages as the premier gateway to China and its ever-successful film industry.

�Our 5th Anniversary is an important milestone. Hong Kong has faced many challenges in the past five years but we have overcome these difficulties with renewed vigor, resilience and enthusiasm. Not only have we achieved a smooth political transition, we have also continued to build on our strengths and achieved world recognition in different sectors.�

The HKSAR 5th Anniversary program, to be held from June 7-30, comprises a Hong Kong film festival, an investment seminar, a special �HKSAR 5th Anniversary Dragon Boat Demonstration Race�, an urban planning seminar and a large-scale photo exhibition on Hong Kong�s infrastructure development.

Sponsored by the HKETO and organized by Cinematheque Ontario, the Hong Kong Film Festival �City at Light Speed: Hong Kong Cinema Since 1997� will
kick off the anniversary program on June 7 at Jackman Hall of Art Gallery of Ontario. During the film festival, which will last until June 19, Toronto audience will have an opportunity to enjoy a series of nine high quality Hong Kong movies, which have not been commercially released in Toronto.

Produced after 1997, this film collection presents works of a group of talented professionals in Hong Kong�s film industry and depicts the versatility of Hong Kong. These nine films are: Fruit Chan�s �Durian Durian� and �Little Cheung�, Ann Hui�s �Eighteen Springs�, Johnnie To�s �The Mission�, Yu Lik-wai�s �Love Will Tear Us Apart�, Carol Lai Miu-suet�s �Glass Tears�, Stanley Kwan�s �Lan Yu�, Aubrey Lam Oi-wah�s �Twelve Nights� and Wilson Yip�s �Juliet in Love�.

The film festival will be followed by an informative investment seminar on �Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China�, to be jointly organized by the HKETO and the Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals and Businesses, in association with the Mississauga Board of Trade and the Mississauga Technology Association.

The seminar, to be held on June 21 at the Living Arts Center in Mississauga, will address the growing interests of Canadian enterprises interested in investing in China with and through Hong Kong. It will focus on the considerable business opportunities available in China after its accession to the World Trade Organization and the advantages of partnering with Hong Kong to enter the China market. Mrs Ure and other panel speakers will share with Canadian companies their practical advice on the best strategies to expand their business in China.

This year�s annual Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, to be held on June 22 and 23 at the Toronto Centre Island, will witness a special �Hong Kong Dragon Boat Demonstration Race� sponsored by the HKETO. The best four men�s teams emerged from the Grand Final will compete for the �Hong Kong SAR 5th Anniversary Cup�. With more than 200 teams from all over the world including one from Hong Kong. The event promises to be one of the biggest Dragon Boat Races ever held in Toronto.

Organized with the full support of the City of Toronto, an urban planning seminar themed �Planning for Sustainable Growth - The Hong Kong and Toronto Experience�, will share urban planning strategies and good practices between Toronto and Hong Kong and to present business opportunities offered by the various large-scale infrastructure projects to Canadian businesses.

The seminar will be held on June 24 at the Toronto City Hall. Mr Robert Fung, Chair of Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation and Mr Augustine Ng, Assistant Director of HKSAR Government�s Planning Department, will be the keynote speakers.

Since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong has acclaimed a smooth political transition. The successful implementation of the �One Country, Two Systems� principle is a record that Hong Kong people are proud of. While core infrastructure projects completed in the last five years have enhanced the competitive edge of Hong Kong as a major regional business and transportation hub, the HKSAR Government�s commitment to invest C$120 billion in future infrastructure developments will ensure that Hong Kong will continue to be a world-class business city with a pleasant living environment for its citizens and visitors. The stunning infrastructure projects completed within the past five years as well as Hong Kong�s plans for the future will be the focus of the �Building a Dynamic Hong Kong� photo exhibition, to be held from June 24-30 at the Rotunda of the Toronto City Hall.

The HKSAR 5th Anniversary programme is supported by Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily and Fairchild Television as its media sponsors.


(Note to Editor: Press screenings on �Eighteen Springs� and �The Mission� will be organized by Cinematheque Ontario on Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m respectively at Toronto International Film Festival Group offices at 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1600. Interested media are requested to contact Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer at 416-924-7374)

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