ENG-2014 — Page 339

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The Media, Communications and Information Technology

The ETO organised or co-organised many business seminars in the fifteen countries under its purview to promote Hong Kong's advantages. It also organised or supported many events to showcase Hong Kong art and culture, holding its annual Hong Kong Film Panorama in nine European cities and sponsoring film festivals in Belgium, Italy and Spain. Young directors from two Hong Kong film schools received invaluable exposure when their work was screened at the International Film School Festival in Poitiers, which included a tribute to Hong Kong cinema.

The Brussels ETO also supported performances by Hong Kong artists in Florence, Pordenone, near Venice, and Rome. Other highlights included supporting the Hong Kong Design Centre in hosting an exhibition at the Milan Design Week, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board in bringing a typical Hong Kong-style bistro to the Bordeaux Wine Festival.

In 2014, the London ETO organised 10 visits by HKSAR Government principal officials to the countries under its purview, including visits by the Chief Executive to Sweden in May and the Financial Secretary to the UK in October. The London ETO also provided support to two delegation visits by the Legislative Council.

The London ETO organised seminars and receptions to promote Hong Kong as the preferred gateway to Mainland China and Asia. The London ETO also organised or supported arts and cultural events, including a film festival in Manchester; Cantonese opera performances in London and Edinburgh; contemporary dance performances in Oslo; and the Dragon Boat Festival in London. The office took part in the Lord Mayor's Show in London. In addition, the London ETO held for the third time a competition to encourage UK students to study in Hong Kong.

In 2014, the Berlin ETO organised the visits of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So Kam-leung (Switzerland); the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam (Austria and Germany); and the Secretary for Education (Germany and Switzerland).

Besides regular meetings with government officials, business communities and think tanks, the Berlin ETO organised or participated in 18 business luncheons, seminars and exhibitions during the year; and hosted or supported six arts and cultural events and 14 receptions to promote Hong Kong. These included film festivals and Chinese New Year receptions in countries under the Berlin ETO's purview. A Gala Dinner was also hosted in Berlin on the occasion of the Chief Secretary's visit.

North America

In 2014, the ETO in Washington, DC organised the visits of the Financial Secretary when he attended the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury; and the Secretary for the Environment.

The Washington ETO presented a celebration of Hong Kong arts and culture with a bamboo flower plaque by Zuni Icosahedron and the annual 'Made in Hong Kong' Film Festival co- sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, coinciding with the 2014 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

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