Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 339
Ties between Hong Kong and Canada received a boost in 2008 with the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Promotion Co-operation between the two economies, recognising the benefit of increasing two-way investment. This was followed by the launching of 'Ventures' a business information blog, set up jointly by the Toronto ETO, the HKTDC, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association. The blog focuses on Hong Kong-China-Canadian trade and highlights Hong Kong's strategic position as the gateway to the Mainland.
A national business forum was held in Edmonton in June to promote Hong Kong as the 'smart link' to China. A video conference on career opportunities in Hong Kong, at which representatives of major business sectors spoke, was organised for the sixth consecutive year in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Close to 800 young people attended the conference. The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, visited Toronto in June and spoke at a seminar on Hong Kong's quality migrant scheme to attract talented overseas people to Hong Kong.
In November, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, visited Vancouver where she met government officials, business leaders, academics and students. She elaborated on Hong Kong's programme for boosting innovative industries and on the opportunities for Canadian businesses in her keynote speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade.
'Hong Kong riding high with Olympic spirit' was the theme used in Canada to promote the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games. The Toronto ETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board worked with CBC-Radio Canada, the official Canadian broadcaster of 'Beijing 2008', on publicising the event and providing media coverage of Hong Kong's equestrian events in Canada. Joint promotions were organised with major Canadian equestrian magazines and websites as well as the China National Tourist Office in Toronto. The Games were also publicised at the Spruce Meadows in Calgary, an internationally recognised equestrian organiser-cum-facility.
An exhibition was staged at Toronto's Design Exchange, showcasing a range of Hong Kong designs and products. Another display-cum-seminar on Hong Kong's creativity, entitled 'Open Book: A Very Hong Kong Book Design Display', was co-organised with the University of Toronto.
The New York ETO participated in events in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Lexington (Kentucky), Miami and New York to promote Hong Kong as a co-host city for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in the run-up to the Games.
An eye-catching Hong Kong exhibition, titled 'Asia's world city welcomes the Olympics' was staged during the prestigious three-day Rolex Kentucky trials held by the United States Equestrian Federation in Lexington in April to pick the US 2008 Olympic Eventing Team. A 13-minute film 'Hong Kong is Ready' was also shown. during the trials.
In October, the ETO held a month-long festival, 'New York Celebrates Hong Kong', in New York City, showcasing Hong Kong's cultural and economic vitality
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