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Facilities secured for World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has reached agreement with two major companies for the supply of meeting facilities and local transportation for the 1997 World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings.
A contract was signed between the HKMA and the New World Group (NWG) this week for providing the necessary meeting facilities at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Extension. The NWG will charge a concessionary fee for the provision of the facilities.
Separately, HKMA has also reached sponsorship agreement with the Zung Fu Co Ltd for the provision of 252 Mercedes-Benz saloon cars including the cost of providing drivers. These cars will be mainly used by senior delegates during the Annual Meetings.
The above meeting facilities and transport services are secured to meet the requirements stipulated by the World Bank/IMF.
In addition, cash sponsorships from Hutchison Whampoa Ltd and Wing Lung Bank were received this month by the HKMA. To date, the cash sponsorship for the Annual Meetings totalled about $43 million and sponsorship in kind has exceeded $40 million. These will result in more than $80 million savings to the expenses of organising the Annual Meetings.
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Noon day gun to aid Hong Kong servicemen
With a fine twist to a historic tale, the famous Noon Day Gun comes to the aid of Hong Kong's ex-servicemen next week when it was fired by Senior Naval Officer, Commodore Peter Melson.
Commodore Melson will fire the gun on Tuesday (October 22) to mark the last Trafalgar Day celebrations to be held here.
Normally individuals firing the gun make a donation to the Community Chest but on this occasion, his action will be sponsored by Jardine Matheson Ltd to the sum of $30,000.