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EVENT

Delegation

2000 4-Nation Study Mission to Europe

2000.11.01

The Better Hong Kong Foundation held a delegation visit to Germany, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

This mission demonstrated the importance Hong Kong’s major trading partners in Europe attached to Hong Kong’s geo-economic position and their confidence in its people and the strength of business in Asia. Delegates presented state secretaries, ministers, senior government officials and business leaders in host countries with the latest political and economic situation of Hong Kong, its investment outlook and developments in technology and innovation.

During the visit, the delegation held discussions with influential think tanks and non-government organizations on issues of common interest and mutual concern.

Delegates also met with the senior management of renowned multinational corporations, including Germany’s DaimlerChrysler and Siemens, Finland’s Nokia, Sweden’s Ericsson and Philips of the Netherlands.

The mission toured science parks in Berlin, Stockholm and Amsterdam, and discussed Hong Kong’s partnership prospects with them. The group also gave presentations at luncheons and dinners hosted by important forums and business associations in Berlin, Munich, Helsinki, Stockholm and Amsterdam.

Among the delegates were distinguished members of Hong Kong’s business and academic communities, including Professor Lau Siu Kai, Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor Francis Lui, Director, Centre for Economic Development, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Mr. Daniel Fung, Senior Counsel, Des Voeux Chamber and former Solicitor-General, Hong Kong Government; Mr. Peter Lo, CEO, Provisional Hong Kong Science Park/Hong Kong Industrial Estates and Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre; Dr. Sudirto, President Director, PT Bomar Securities, a member of the CP Group; Ms. Anne Chen, Partner, Wlkinson & Grist; and Ms. Bing-ling CHOW, Vice President, Wong’s Electronics. For the first time, a Hong Kong Government Principal Investment Consultant from the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Europe, Mr. Y. C. Tam, joined the Foundation’s event.

At public forums and business meetings, Professor Lau briefed the European audiences on Hong Kong’s constitutional development, the major social issues after the Handover, public aspirations and the political landscape in the years ahead. Professor Lui reiterated the importance of Hong Kong in Asia Pacific as an international business centre and a gateway to China. Foreign investors would benefit both from their investment and partnership with Hong Kong corporations and from using it as a regional base to China. China’s imminent accession to WTO would provide even greater business opportunities for Hong Kong, especially in the financial and service sectors, with the potential for commercial activities to grow in both scale and number.

As a keynote speaker at the business gatherings, Mr. Daniel Fung articulated the four pillars of strength for Hong Kong’s continued top ranking as the freest economy in the world. The ‘level-playing field’, WTO business compliance, zero tolerance for corruption and the rule of law were the formula for Hong Kong’s success. Mr. Fung added that, “In keeping abreast with today’s knowledge economy and trade globalization, Hong Kong is expanding its business portfolio to embark on a bold and visionary infrastructure development on technology and innovation, such as Cyberport and science parks, and a mission-critical education and human resource policy and strategy package to upgrade the quality of our work force.”

Delegate Peter Lo used the visit to introduce his three related technology and industrial organizations to business communities and prospective clients as well as initiating partnership discussions with the science parks in the host countries.