ENG-2000 — Page 419

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

received an Alumni Achievement Award. Stopping in New York and Atlanta en route to Boston, Mr Tsang met the editorial boards of a number of financial publications and appeared on a financial television news programme. In Atlanta, he also called on the President of the Federal Reserve Bank, Mr Jack Guynn, and visited the headquarters of the CNN and Coca-Cola companies.

Among activities promoting Hong Kong during the year, the New York HKETO sponsored the dragon boat festivals in New York, Atlanta, and Boston. In October, the office, along with the newly formed Invest Hong Kong, entertained clients and contacts on board the yacht, Spirit of Hong Kong, which Invest Hong Kong had sponsored in the BT Global Challenge round-the-world race. Boston was the second port-of-call in the 10-month race, which started from Britain.

The Washington HKETO held a reception in May for an American Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) delegation lead by its Chairman, Mr Richard Kahler, and President, Mr Frank Martin, which was visiting the capital to lobby members of Congress in support of granting PNTR to China. In the summer, the Washington HKETO and the Sackler Gallery of Art presented for movie-goers the fifth annual film festival, Made in Hong Kong.

Led by the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, an IT delegation from Hong Kong attended the Softworld 2000 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in October. The event, described as the premier IT deal-making software trade show in Canada and organised by the Industry Department of Canada, also provided an opportunity for Mrs Yau to speak at the Softworld Alliance Partner Presentations. She told delegates that Hong Kong remained a one- stop portal for enterprises wanting to seize the opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. A number of other senior officials visited North America during the year, on fact-finding missions or to attend conferences, and also giving addresses at functions organised by the HKETOS.

To promote the Hong Kong - Canada link, the Toronto HKETO launched a joint competition, the 'Hong Kong/Sheridan Multimedia Awards', with the Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. The awards scheme, with a total value of $125,000 in scholarships and cash and with sponsorship from the business sector, is open to Hong Kong and Canadian secondary and tertiary students. A Hong Kong student will be chosen for the best production in web page design or computer animation and in May 2001 will receive one of the top awards - a $50,000 scholarship to study at the Sheridan College, an institution renowned for multimedia studies.

Europe

The Chief Executive visited London in October. He called on the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Mr John Prescott. He also attended a luncheon hosted by the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, Mrs Margaret Beckett. During his three-day visit, Mr Tung hosted receptions for business leaders in the United Kingdom and representatives of the Chinese communities in London. He delivered a keynote speech at the annual dinner of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The Chief Executive also took the opportunity to visit a waste disposal and management facility and the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, one of the world's leading teaching and research institutions in applied science and technology.

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