ENG-2007 — Page 406

342 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

In June, the ETO in Singapore helped organise a five-day study tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand for a high-level delegation led by the Hong Kong Government's Efficiency Unit to examine the strategy of using of Public Private Partnerships in providing public services.

On the cultural front, the ETO in February co-sponsored the 'Spotlight Hong Kong' programme, a smorgasbord of arts and cultural offerings which involved flying more than 100 Hong Kong artists to Singapore to perform there.

The ETO hosted a big reception in Singapore in June to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR. Also in June, the ETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board worked together to put up a Hong Kong Pavilion at a major travel trade fair in Kuala Lumpur.

In July, the ETO and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a forum entitled 'Singapore and Hong Kong: Building Economic Synergies' to promote Hong Kong's role as a bridge to China for overseas businesses, particularly those in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

In September, the ETO staged a four-day showing of movies called 'Hong Kong Movies: The Last Decade' to celebrate the HKSAR's cultural achievements which featured 10 award-winning productions.

A series of talks on Pan-Pearl River Delta regional cooperation, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, the Economic Summit, and migrant schemes were held in Southeast Asia's key cities to enhance understanding of the importance of Hong Kong as a regional business partner, particularly because of China's booming economy, and to highlight Hong Kong as a rewarding workplace for overseas professionals.

Australia and New Zealand

The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, attended the 15th Economic Leaders' Meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Sydney in September. At the meeting, he had talks with a number of government leaders, including the Prime Minister of Australia and the US Secretary of State. Following the APEC meetings, the Chief Executive made a three-day official visit to New Zealand where he met the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and the Minister of Trade to strengthen Hong Kong-New Zealand ties. Among the many activities, the Chief Executive officiated at the Hong Kong Tourism Board's 'Hong Kong Riding High' celebration to promote the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events to be held in Hong Kong and delivered a keynote speech at a gala dinner hosted by the Sydney ETO. To draw additional attention to the visit, the Sydney ETO commissioned a special report about Hong Kong in two leading newspapers in New Zealand.

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR, the Sydney ETO held two large-scale receptions in Auckland and Sydney in June and July, highlighting Hong Kong's robust development in the past decade. The office also commissioned a special report on the success of the unique 'one country, two systems' concept under which the HKSAR is run, in a major Australian national daily.