ENG-1998 — Page 409

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In a promotional tour afterwards, Mrs Chan visited Rome and Milan. She met the new Prime Minister, Mr Massimo D'Alema, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Lamberto Dini, the Minister for Foreign Trade, Mr Piero Fassino and the Governor of the Bank of Italy, Mr Antonio Fazio. Mrs Chan and Mr Dini signed a Hong Kong/Italy agreement concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. She addressed Italian bankers and businessmen at a business conference and opened two Hong Kong film festivals and a Hong Kong food festival organised by the Brussels HKETO.

As part of an overseas tour to speak about Hong Kong's response to the Asian financial situation, the Financial Secretary visited Frankfurt, Munich, The Hague and Amsterdam in the week straddling September/October. Mr Tsang met the President of the European Central Bank, Dr Wim Duisenberg, the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Dr Hans Tietmeyer, the Hesse State Minister for Finance, Mr Karl Starzacher, and the Bavarian State Minister for Finance, Mr Erwin Huber. In The Netherlands he met the Dutch Foreign and Finance Ministers, Mr Jozias van Aartzen and Mr Gerrit Zalm, respectively, and the President of the National Bank of The Netherlands, Mr Arnout Wellink. He went next to the UK where he met the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, the Minister of State, Mr Derek Fatchett, and the Governor of the Bank of England, Mr Eddie George.

On other visits to Europe: the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, went to Brussels to discuss matters relating to the World Trade Organisation with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan; the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, went to Brussels to sign an Air Services Agreement with Belgium; a delegation of environmental experts led by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, travelled to Vienna to meet senior officials and political leaders of the Federal Ministry of Environment and City of Vienna on matters of mutual interest; the Commissioner of the Independent Commission of Corruption, Mrs Lily Yam, went to Brussels, Amsterdam and London to relate Hong Kong's continuing efforts to tackle corruption; and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Joseph Yam, gave a keynote address to the Hong Kong Association in London. The Solicitor General, Mr Daniel Fung, the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, and the Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan, also visited London during the year.

The London ETO held a series of events to mark the first anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, including the first Hong Kong Film festival in London from June 30 to July 9. Other activities organised by the HKETOS included investment seminars in Ireland, Belgium and Italy and a seminar on maritime services in London.

Asia-Pacific

The Chief Executive attended the 6th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in November.

Hong Kong's third major overseas promotion in 1998 was held in Japan. The month-long programme in June featured exhibitions, fashion extravaganzas, business seminars, food festivals and tourism promotions. The Chief Secretary for Administration led a high-powered delegation of government officials and business representatives to Tokyo where she met the Prime Minister, Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, other senior ministers and business leaders.

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