Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 355
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, visited Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia in March to bring government ministers and business leaders there up to date on Hong Kong's development and advantages as an international financial centre. He signed agreements with Brunei and Indonesia on the avoidance of double taxation and had separate audiences with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, led a delegation of senior representatives of Hong Kong universities to Malaysia and Indonesia in May where the delegates exchanged views on higher education with their counterparts and visited the countries' universities and schools. In Malaysia, Mr Suen spoke at an education seminar and a business luncheon about Hong Kong's education reform. The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, visited Malaysia in June at the head of a delegation of leaders of Hong Kong's maritime industry. She spoke at a seminar to promote Hong Kong's maritime services.
In November, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung, visited Malaysia and Singapore where he met members of the legal profession in both countries and addressed a business luncheon in Malaysia to promote Hong Kong as an international dispute resolution centre.
Other senior Hong Kong SAR Government officials who visited the region. during the year to attend international conferences and promote Hong Kong were the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose Lee; the Secretary for Development, Mrs. Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; and the Secretary for Environment, Mr Edward Yau.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) continued to organise business, cultural and public relations events across the ASEAN region during the year, promoting Hong Kong as Asia's premier business hub, financial centre and tourist destination.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Singapore ETO co-hosted with the HKTB receptions in Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Manila. In June, it held a gala dinner to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its establishment.
On the cultural front, the Singapore ETO organised the Hong Kong Film Festival in Malaysia and Singapore in March and April respectively which featured a wide selection of Hong Kong films including award-winning titles. In July, it sponsored a charity concert, organised by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore that featured the Hong Kong Children's Choir.
Australia and New Zealand
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, visited New Zealand in November where he signed an Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation with the Deputy. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Bill English. He also met the Minister of Trade, Mr Tim Groser to exchange views on bilateral and multilateral trade ties.
The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam visited New Zealand in May. She was briefed on issues related to heritage conservation, waterfront planning and
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