ENG-2018 — Page 344

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Media and Communications

Visits were arranged for the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to Ottawa and Montreal to foster Hong Kong-Canada economic and trade ties, and for the Secretary for the Civil Service to Ottawa for bilateral exchanges on civil service management and training.

The office also supported the Hong Kong Cultural Expo, a residency cultural exchange project and musical performances to showcase Hong Kong arts talent. In Toronto and Montreal, academic seminars on Hong Kong's development and success were held and Hong Kong movies participated in international film festivals.

Northeast Asia

The Tokyo ETO represents Hong Kong to promote closer economic and trade ties as well as cultural exchanges with Japan and Korea.

In 2018, the Tokyo office organised the visit of the Chief Executive to Japan to enhance bilateral relations, accompanied by the Secretary for Justice, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W. Yang. They met key officials, members of the Diet and business leaders, and visited local universities, scientific research institutes and smart city facilities. To tie in with the visit, the office organised a Hong Kong Week, featuring a seminar on women empowerment, an architectural exhibition, a cheongsam exhibition, a large business symposium, a tourism exhibition and arts performances to highlight Hong Kong's soft powers.

Other events presented or supported by the office included a spring reception in Tokyo, a 'Special Focus on Hong Kong' at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, the Yokohama Dragon Boat Race, Asian Youth Orchestra concerts and the Hong Kong Cup Student Ambassadors English Programme for university students in Japan.

The office also arranged trips by the Secretary for Justice, the Secretary for the Environment and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee, to Incheon, Tokyo and Seoul respectively.

Southeast Asia

The Singapore ETO fosters bilateral relations between Hong Kong and six Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In 2018, the office organised and supported five visits to these states by the Chief Executive, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, the Secretary for Food and Health and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah.

To promote Hong Kong's soft strengths, the Singapore ETO sponsors some performances of visiting art groups, such as the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Spring-Time Experimental Theatre in 2018. It also organises receptions to establish connections and enhance networking with diplomats, local government officials, academics and think tanks, the business sector, arts and cultural organisations, as well as the local Hong Kong community.

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