The Better Hong Kong Foundation successfully hosted the Third Annual Business Week CEO Forum in Hong Kong. More than 200 international business and political leaders gathered at the Grand Hyatt Hotel from October 13 to15, to discuss a wide range of business issues around the theme, “Managing the Speed of Change: Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow.”
Leaders including the Hon. Tung Chee-Hwa, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR; the Hon. David Li, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Bank of East Asia; the Hon. Yu Xiaosong, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); and former U.S. President George Bush appeared at the Forum to address Asia’s future challenges.
At the opening dinner, the HKSAR Chief Executive Mr. Tung spoke of his vision and plan to position Hong Kong as Asia’s premier international city in the 21st century. Asia’s development in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis was on the minds of many participants. Dr. David Li, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, viewed this Forum as a great opportunity for Asia to review the lessons learned after the economic turmoil of the previous two years. During remarks at the Forum gala dinner, he suggested that “The Asian crisis will prove to be part of a step forward, not a step back. What we learn from all this will make us significantly stronger and more prosperous in the years ahead.”
With Asia’s future inevitably linked to China’s future, the participation of senior Chinese government officials in the Forum was important. The Hon. Nellie Fong, Chairman of the Foundation’s Executive Committee, when introducing Mr. Yu Xiaosong, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), noted, “As Asia copes with the aftermath of the region’s financial crisis, China will no doubt serve as a driver of much of Asia’s recovery.” Mr. Yu Xiaosong, in his remarks, reaffirmed China’s commitment to economic reform and to continuing to open its markets to international business. He said, “China, as the largest developing nation in the world, is seizing the opportunities and embracing the challenges with a more open mentality and greater enthusiasm.”
At the close of the three-day conference, former U.S. President George Bush gave a keynote address that focused on the world’s move into the new millennium against the background of the present geo-political scenario in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Bush praised Hong Kong’s resilience since the handover of July 1, 1997. He used the phrase “promises made, promises kept” to establish the smooth return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, and reiterated his confidence in Hong Kong under the administration of the Chief Executive, Mr. Tung. President Bush was also optimistic on Asia Pacific’s transformation in the new millennium as regional economies rebounded. However, he warned this was no time for complacency, stressing that bilateral U.S-China relations were crucial to world peace and global prosperity.
Former U.S. President George Bush delivered a keynote address on “Moving into the New Millennium”
Trustee Dr. Stanley Ho welcomed Mr. C.H. Tung to attend the Forum