ENG-2004 — Page 454

392 | Communications, the Media and Information Technology

In Prague, Mr Tsang called on the President of the Czech Republic, Mr Vaclav Klaus, and met the Czech Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Pavel Svoboda, and members of the Czech Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee. He addressed a joint Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) business luncheon at Palace Zofin and presented a nine-member ensemble of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra at the historical Prague Municipal House.

In early November the Chief Secretary visited Dublin at the invitation of the Irish Government. During the visit, he met the Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, and witnessed the initialling of the Working Holiday Agreement between Ireland and Hong Kong. The two leaders also noted the desirability of concluding agreements in a number of areas including taxation and justice.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, visited Frankfurt in April en route to the Basel World 2004 Watch and Jewellery Fair. Mr Tang called on the Deutsche Bundesbank, the European Central Bank and other major financial institutions to update them on the latest economic developments in Hong Kong.

Visits to Europe were also made by the Secretary for Security and the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour.

North America

The Washington HKETO organised a number of high-profile events to promote Hong Kong, including the ninth annual 'Made in Hong Kong' film festival, co- sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art, and a performance of The Last Emperor by the Hong Kong Ballet.

The Financial Secretary visited New York and met with senior management of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, credit rating agencies, business leaders and financial service organisations in January. In July, Mr Tang and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, were in New York to promote the international offering of Hong Kong SAR government bonds to US institutional investors.

During the year, the New York HKETO continued to publicise the Brand Hong Kong visual identity at dragon boat festivals in New York, Atlanta, Boston and Miami.

The New York HKETO also promoted Hong Kong and its culture through sponsorship of film festivals in Atlanta, Chicago and New York. It also sponsored an essay contest, inviting high school students in the US to submit essays analysing the reasons behind Hong Kong's economic success. The winner, a high school senior from Alabama, was chosen from 320 submissions from 23 states.

As part of a Canade-wide promotion campaign, the Toronto HKETO organised business seminars with Hong Kong-Canada business associations, Canadian economic development agencies and trade organisations, in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Halifax.