COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The Director-General of Investment Promotion visited Singapore in March to brief senior business executives on the advantages of doing business in Hong Kong. Mr Rowse also addressed a luncheon co-organised by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore HKETO on investment opportunities in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Insurance visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in January and March, respectively. Mr Tang delivered two speeches on Hong Kong's role as a regional insurance centre at luncheons organised by the Singapore HKETO. Leading a delegation, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Francis Ho, visited Singapore in September to share experience with officials and industry professionals on policies and programmes in promoting science and technology. Elsewhere in the region, a delegation led by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Dr Lam Hung-kwan, attended the 57th Session of the Ministerial Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok in April.
During the year, the Singapore HKETO participated in Information Technology exhibitions in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to showcase the HKSAR's Digital 21 IT Strategy, the Electronic Services Delivery Scheme, the Interactive Government Services Directory and the Cyberport project. In other activities, the office supported the Xposition O Contemporary Dance Fiesta 2001 in December, in which the School of Dance of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts made its debut in Singapore by staging a contemporary dance performance.
Australia and New Zealand
In March, the Secretary for the Civil Service visited Sydney, Canberra and Wellington to study the civil service management systems and public sector reforms in place in the Australian and New Zealand governments. Mr Wong and his delegation met the heads of the public service commissions in the two governments as well as other senior officials involved in public sector management. While in Sydney, Mr Wong took the opportunity to give a briefing on the work of the Administrative Service in the HKSAR Government to a gathering of university students. He also met members of the Australian Chinese press to brief them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.
At the invitation of the New Zealand Government, the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mrs Fanny Law, visited Auckland and Wellington in August. She met the Minister of Education, Mr Trevor Mallard, as well as education officials to exchange views on education developments in both Hong Kong and New Zealand and to explore opportunities for co-operation. Mrs Law also called on the Minister of Social Services and Employment, Mr Steve Maharey, and the officials of the Department of Labour to discuss matters related to manpower and employment. While in Wellington, Mrs Law delivered a keynote address at the 10th New Zealand International Education Conference. As part of that conference, Mrs Law discussed possible co-operation with New Zealand education providers in the areas of teacher development and student exchange.
In September, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Grenville Cross, led a delegation of senior prosecutors from Hong Kong to participate in the Sixth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors in Sydney. Besides addressing the delegates, Mr Cross also chaired the Asia/Pacific Regional Forum at the conference. During his stay, Mr Cross addressed a group of
375