Press Release - September 30, 2002

The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Antony Leung, had a field day today (September 30), meeting a wide range of key personalities, opinion formers, bankers, senior financial services executives and senior government officials in Toronto in his one-day visit to the city to promote closer ties between the two places.

This was his first official visit to Canada since his appointment as Financial Secretary in May 2001.

Arriving in Toronto late last night, Mr Leung started his whirlwind visit program this morning with a roundtable discussion with economists of major Canadian banks to provide an update on the successful implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems'in Hong Kong. He also briefed them how Hong Kong has risen up to the challenges and opportunities arising from economic restructuring and economic integration with the Mainland of China, and continued to be a thriving international financial and business centre in the region.

At noon, Mr Leung attended a business luncheon co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), Hong Kong-Canada Business Association and Canadian Club of Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. He delivered a keynote address on Hong Kong's role in the dramatic transformation now taking place in China, and what Hong Kong can offer Canadian companies in the new economic environment.

In the afternoon, Mr Leung hosted a roundtable discussion with distinguished local academics and think tanks who have a special interests in the political and economic developments in Hong Kong, China and Asia. The opportunity was taken for a useful exchange of views on subjects of mutual interests.

Mr Leung later called on the Ontario Minister of Finance, the Hon. Janet Ecker, for a bilateral discussion. He also took time out to brief a wide cross-section of the international media about Hong Kong's latest developments.

Mr Leung concluded his one-day visit by meeting with more than 150 Hong Kong students studying in universities of Greater Toronto Area at the Faculty Club of the University of Toronto. During the one-hour discussion with the students, the Financial Secretary briefed them of the latest developments in Hong Kong in all fronts and the career opportunities available and encouraging them to pursue their careers in the Special Administration Region.

Before his visit to Toronto, Mr Leung attended the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington D.C. and met bankers, business leaders, economists, financial analysts and think tanks in San Francisco.

Mr Leung will leave Toronto tonight for Hong Kong.



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 Officer,[email protected].