ENG-2010 — Page 411

Communications, the Media and Information Technology 349

In August and September, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, led a high-level business delegation to Moscow. In addition to promoting business links. with Russia, Mr Tsang opened an exhibition, 'Festive Hong Kong Week' organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and celebrated the inaugural flight of Cathay Pacific's direct service between Hong Kong and Moscow.

The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, led a business delegation to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East to explore business opportunities with the region. While there he opened a Hong Kong photo exhibition at the Arseniev State Museum. Mr Tsang also visited the UK in October to attend the HKTDC London Dinner.

In May, the Secretary for Financial Services, Professor K C Chan attended the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia. He visited London in June and signed a comprehensive agreement with the UK on the avoidance of double taxation. He visited London again in November to promote Hong Kong as China's global financial centre.

Other visitors included the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, to Tallinn, Estonia and London, in May; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, to Denmark in August; and the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, who visited Oslo and London in September.

The London ETO organised or supported a number of cultural events during the year. It sponsored Qin and Chanting concerts by Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese musicians in London and Oxford, and a concert by Hong Kong-born pianist Colleen Lee in Gothenburg, Sweden. It also supported Hong Kong art exhibitions and projects and initiated and funded a film festival celebrating Hong Kong films in Moscow.

London ETO made its sixth appearance at London's Lord Mayor's Show. Its entry recreated Hong Kong's 'Wishing Tree', giving the 500 000 spectators along the parade route an opportunity to 'throw' their wishes onto the tree.

In association with the HKTDC, the London ETO organised 11 Chinese New Year events in eight countries to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. With the HKTB it sponsored the London Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square.

The London ETO rendered assistance to Hong Kong students stranded at London Heathrow Airport by the snowstorm that closed all major UK airports for several days in December.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (Berlin ETO) held a reception and press conference on February 17, 2010 in Berlin to celebrate the screening of four Hong Kong films at the 60th Berlinale 2010 in Berlin and to promote Hong Kong's motion picture industry. A Hong Kong film, Echoes of the Rainbow, won the best feature film in the festival's Generation Section.