ENG-2009 — Page 416

344 | Communications, the Media and Information Technology

The New York ETO continued to promote Hong Kong through various events in cities across the East Coast of America during the year.

The month-long 'Hong Kong comes to Chicago' festival organised in May put Hong Kong in perspective in Chicago. Through an array of cultural and business- oriented programmes, Hong Kong was again showcased as a culturally diverse and economically vibrant world city. A highlight of the festival was a concert at which a Hong Kong Chinese music ensemble performed alongside a Chicago-based orchestra which US music critics described as a contemporary approach to modern Chinese music.

The New York ETO also continued promoting Hong Kong's creative industries. Twenty-five Hong Kong films were prominently featured at major US film festivals, which included America's oldest film festival, the Chicago International Film festival, the well-known New York Asian Film Festival, the Atlanta Asian film festival, and other film events. Veteran film maker John Woo and a number of new generation Hong Kong film makers, including Kenneth Bi, Wai Ka-fai, Chan Wing-chiu and Mak Hei-yan were among guests specially honoured at the festivals. John Woo's epic drama Red Cliff made its US premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival, while the New York ETO sponsored the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's Carnegie Hall debut in October.

To promote Hong Kong as a wine hub, San Francisco ETO hosted a luncheon in April 2009 for representatives of the wine trade in California at which the Financial Secretary John C Tsang spoke. The event, entitled 'Hong Kong Asia's Wine and Gourmet Centre' was supported by the Wine Institute and Napa Valley Vintners in Napa Valley, California. In his speech to the more than 150 winery and vineyard representatives, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong was committed to becoming the wine trading, distribution and storage hub in Asia.

San Francisco ETO also sponsored a 30-minute TV programme, entitled 'Wine Portfolio', showing how Hong Kong is becoming a wine trading hub. It was aired by CNBC World in September 2009 and repeated by CNBC Asia the following month. In addition, the TV crew which filmed the Financial Secretary's Napa Valley luncheon speech flew to Hong Kong to interview government officials, industry leaders, wine auctioneers and restaurant owners.

During his California visit, Mr Tsang also spoke at a gala dinner in San Francisco about Hong Kong as an international financial centre. The dinner was attended by over 200 business leaders, senior officials, consuls-general and local dignitaries.

In June, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau visited the San Francisco Bay Area to promote Hong Kong as a regional technology services hub. She also addressed more than 400 conference participants at the 'Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Summit' in San Jose.

At another event, organised by San Francisco ETO, entitled 'Hong Kong-Smart City, Smart Life' Mrs Lau spoke about the Octopus card, a Hong Kong technological invention, which has become a commercial success.