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the terrorist attacks in New York and the capital, and his expressed his shock and sympathy. After the meeting, Mr Tsang said Mr Powell had expressed admiration for Hong Kong's development since reunification in 1997. Mr Tsang also had meetings. with Congressmen Jim Leach and Doug Bereuter, and General Brent Scowcroft, a National Security Adviser in previous U.S. Administrations. In addition, he had meetings with executives of two think tanks, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and its President, Mr John Hamre, and the American Enterprise Institute, as well as with the Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr Tom Donohue.
In New York, Mr Tsang was the keynote speaker at a business luncheon co- organised by the Asia Society and New York HKETO in association with the China Institute, Hong Kong Association of New York, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. In his address, Mr Tsang highlighted the significance of developing closer links between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Mr Tsang also met members of various think tanks, including the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Council on Foreign Relations, and editors of a number of New York-based newspapers and magazines. While in New York, Mr Tsang christened a Circle Line Ferry with the new Brand Hong Kong dragon logo and colours at the South Street Seaport. The Brand Hong Kong sightseeing ferry sailed in New York harbour up to the end of the year, carrying about 28 000 tourists on cruises around Manhattan. The gala christening event was organised by the New York HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The dynamic dragon was introduced from May at a series of receptions for think tank members, the media and the business community as well as at dragon boat festivals in New York, Boston and Atlanta and corporate sail events in Baltimore, Boston and New York.
The Chief Secretary began his programme in Los Angeles as guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. The next day, he gave a keynote address at a luncheon organised by the San Francisco HKETO and co- sponsored by the Asia Society Southern California Centre, Hong Kong Association of Southern California, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Town Hall Los Angeles. Other functions included a breakfast meeting hosted by the Pacific Council on International Policy, a briefing by the UCLA-California NanoSystems Institute on developments in the field of nanotechnology, and a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation. He also met the Mayor of Los Angeles, Mr James Hahn, and a former US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher.
While in the city, Mr Tsang was the officiating guest at a 'Hollywood-style extravaganza' promoting Hong Kong as a prime tourist destination in Asia, organised by the San Francisco HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Entitled 'Experience Life in Asia's world city,' the function, held at Paramount Studios and attended by more than 400 guests, featured the Hong Kong's new visual identity, and highlighted the attractions that the SAR has for visitors.
During the year, a number of bureau and department heads visited the United States. They included the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, who visited Washington DC in July, meeting senior officials of the State Department, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Moving on to San Francisco, Mrs Ip spoke at a