ENG-2009 — Page 414

342 | Communications, the Media and Information Technology

In 2009, Berlin ETO participated in business seminars and receptions in a number of cities, including Vienna, Graz, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Warsaw, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Geneva and Zurich. Topics covered at these forums included cultural and creative industries; environmental policies; intellectual property rights protection; and Hong Kong as a regional financial centre and logistics hub, as a gateway to the mainland of China, as a strategic partner with the booming Pearl River Delta region.

Briefings on developments in Hong Kong, the Government's Budget and the Chief Executive's Policy Address, were also given.

In November, the office organised visits to Frankfurt, Bern and Zurich by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan who delivered the keynote speech at the highly influential conference, Euro Finance Week, in Frankfurt and another at a luncheon in Zurich for business leaders. During his visit, Professor Chan met key economic and financial policymakers, including President of the European Central Bank, Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, and the then Swiss Vice President and Minister of Economic Affairs, Ms Doris Leuthard.

In October, the office helped arrange visits to the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair by two Hong Kong delegations, one led by the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau, and the other by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So. China was the partner in that fair at which a Hong Kong pavilion was set up to showcase the Hong Kong publishing industry's achievements and developments.

In 2009, Berlin ETO organised a number of performances by well known Hong Kong musicians at big events such as the Euro Finance Week in Frankfurt, and the Asia-Pacific Weeks in Berlin to promote Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries. Award-winning pianist Colleen Lee performed at both events, while the Hong Kong Harmonica Association performed at the World Harmonica Festival 2009 in Trossingen, Germany and won 14 awards in the solo, duet, ensemble and orchestral categories.

Berlin ETO also hosted nine Chinese New Year receptions: in Berlin, Bratislava, Budapest, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Ljubljana, Prague, Vienna, and Warsaw with the HKTDC and local chambers of commerce as co-hosts.

North America

The Washington ETO presented the 14th annual 'Made in Hong Kong Film Festival' co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art.

In April, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, visited Washington, DC where he met the Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Jeff Bingaman; and the Enviromental Protection Agency's Acting Deputy Administrator, Scott Fulton. Mr Yau also visited the US Green Building Council.