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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, had a breakfast meeting at Government House this (Tuesday) morning with Mr Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation.

The Chief Executive told Mr Gates that Hong Kong is determined to become an important base for information technology development.

Mr Tung stressed that the Government believed that innovation and technology were important drivers of economic growth as Hong Kong moved into the next century.

"We are devoting more resources to IT education and will continue to invest in our technological infrastructure to ensure that we reap the full benefits of innovation and technology, including IT," he said.

"To provide a conducive environment for this development, we will spare no efforts in protecting intellectual property rights.

"We welcome the initiatives taken by Microsoft in promoting the IT research and development in Hong Kong and the Region," Mr Tung added.

Also present at the meeting were the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K.C. Kwong, and the Director-General of Industry, Mr Francis Ho.

END/Tuesday, March 9, 1999

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