ENG-2001 — Page 442

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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In May, Brand Hong Kong was launched in Brussels, Denmark and the Netherlands during the visit of the Secretary for Economic Services. The Brand was also launched at the Cannes Film Festival by a group of Hong Kong film stars and directors, and in Hamburg and Luxembourg by the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Mr Christopher Jackson.

In June, a Hong Kong Film Festival, organised by the HKETO with the assistance of the Film Services Office, was held in Brussels. The 12 films in the programme played to full houses. A similar film festival organised in Berlin during the Asia- Pacific Weeks in September was equally successful. Other cultural events organised by the Brussels HKETO during the year were Hong Kong Vision, an exhibition of photographs held in Hamburg, Luxembourg and Brussels, a Hong Kong Food Festival in Brussels and a performance by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Berlin.

North and South-East Asia

At the invitation of Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief Executive visited Japan on March 20-23, accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, and the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam. During the visit, Mr Tung had meetings with the then Prime Minister Mr Yoshiro Mori, as well as the ministers for foreign affairs; economy, trade and industry; and economic and fiscal policy and information technology. He also met various business leaders.

In honour of the Chief Executive, the Tokyo HKETO hosted a business luncheon, which was attended by over 450 prominent guests. Mr Tung and other senior officials also visited the Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama to study the latest environmental technologies being applied in Japan.

The Information Coordinator, Mr Stephen Lam, was the guest of honour at a business seminar organised in Osaka by the Tokyo HKETO in November. Speaking to over 400 guests, Mr Lam gave an account of the implementation of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong and highlighted Hong Kong's latest political development, the proposed accountability system in the Government and Brand Hong Kong.

To launch Brand Hong Kong, the Singapore HKETO hosted receptions in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, in May and June. The new visual identity for the HKSAR was well received by the audiences.

Senior officials visiting Singapore during the year included the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph Wong, who attended meetings of the Civil Service College Board of Governors in February and August. During his visits, Mr Wong took the opportunity to meet Hong Kong students studying in Singapore. He also visited the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and received briefings on E-government and service improvement initiatives undertaken by the Info-Communications Development Authority. The Secretary for Health and Welfare attended the First National Disease Management Conference in May. During his visit, Dr Yeoh delivered a luncheon speech on the "Evolution of Health and Welfare in Hong Kong in the New Millennium'.