Press Release - November 4, 2002

Ten more delegates from 6 more Canadian companies have joined the �Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China� trade mission since the announcement of the initial registration figures by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) last week. With the new registrants, a total of 53 delegates from 40 companies / organizations from Canada and Hong Kong are geared up for the forthcoming trade mission scheduled from November 8 to 11 in Hong Kong.

Delegates of the Hong Kong-Canada trade mission come from the following sectors: information and communications technology (11 organizations / 16 delegates); environment (9 organisations / 14 delegates); biotech (4 organizations / 4 delegates); professional services (9 organizations / 10 delegates) and industrial and others (7 organizations / 9 delegates).

Among the 40 companies, 16 come from British Columbia, 13 from Ontario, 7 from Alberta, with the rest from other areas including 3 from Hong Kong.

�We are very pleased to have such an excellent turnout and a very good mix of companies representing different sectors joining the trade mission. This is a good representation of our target sectors which will provide fresh impetus to increased business co-operations between Canada and Hong Kong and through Hong Kong with China,� the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said today (November 4) before her departure for Hong Kong.

�Delegates are particularly excited about our business matching services, which allows them to meet and discuss with their potential Hong Kong partners on specific issues concerning future business co-operations during their stay in Hong Kong,� she said.

Organized by the HKETO, in conjunction with Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Tourism Board, the �Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China� trade mission is designed to give Canadian companies an up-to-date perspective on the vast business opportunities China presents and how they can capture the China market by collaborating with potential business partners in Hong Kong.

The trade mission has received the full support of the Canadian government. The Secretary of State (Asia Pacific), the Hon. David Kilgour, together with the Alberta Minister of Economic Development, the Hon. Mark Norris, will join the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Henry Tang, in officiating at the event�s opening on November 8 in Hong Kong.

With a comprehensive programme of a full-day conference, briefings and workshops, as well as networking opportunities with prospective business partners in Hong Kong and a side trip to southern China, the trade mission promises to be a valuable forum for participating Canadian companies to have an in-depth exploration of the considerable business opportunities that the huge China market has presented to them. They will also find out how they can team up with their Hong Kong partners to venture into that market.

The �Hong Kong � Your Fast Track to China� trade mission is supported by Report On Business Television and Fairchild TV as its media sponsors and Cathay Pacific Airways as the official carrier.



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].