ENG-2009 — Page 412

340 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

Promoting Hong Kong Overseas and in the Mainland

Europe

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and related Hong Kong business associations, the Brussels Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) organised Lunar New Year celebrations in 11 cities across Europe between January and February 2009. Over 1 500 guests from diplomatic, political and business circles attended the events. A young Hong Kong pianist, Colleen Lee, gave recitals at four of the events.

In March, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rital Lau, accompanied by the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Eddy Chan, led a Hong Kong delegation to Paris and Lille to see how France promotes its creative industry and nurtures its talents.

In May, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, visited Brussels to exchange views on financial market regulations and steps. taken to deal with the global financial crisis.

Also in May, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, visited Rome, where she signed a Memorandum of Understanding on wine promotion with Italy. Mrs Lau went on to Cannes for the Hong Kong film industry's centenary celebrations at the Cannes Film Festival.

In November, the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Mr Francis Ho, led a Hong Kong Logistics Development Council delegation to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to renew ties with their counterparts in the three countries, and to promote Hong Kong as a springboard to the huge market of the mainland of China.

The Brussels ETO organised an annual film festival, Hong Kong Film Panorama, which showed the latest Hong Kong movies in Madrid, Antwerp, Lisbon and Brussels. The ETO also supported two acclaimed performances by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra as part of the International Festival of Flanders in Brussels in October.

Hong Kong participated in the famous biennal Europalia International Arts Festival in Belgium with China as guest country, and the Brussels ETO sponsored an exhibition of the acclaimed K S Lo teaware collection and three performances by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Ensemble.

The London ETO organised visits to the United Kingdom by several senior Hong Kong SAR Government officials in 2009. They included the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Joseph Yam, in April; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, in May; the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, in June and September (to attend the G20 Finance Minister Meeting); the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rità Lau, in June; Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Dr Timothy Tong, in July; and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, in November,