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Continuing her European tour in Amsterdam this Tuesday (Amsterdam time June 20) morning, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, visited the Amsterdam Science Park, an initiative of the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research, the City of Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam.

The aim of the Amsterdam Science Park is to stimulate the transfer of knowledge from research institutes in and around Amsterdam to small and medium-size companies in co-operation with the universities, higher vocational schools and intermediary organisations. A cluster of IT research institutes and enterprises, located in the park, have developed a dynamic and interactive relationship with businesses in the field of physics, biology and chemistry.

Mrs Chan also toured the park's Twinning Centre, which provides a stimulating and supportive environment in which high-potential Information and Communications Technology (ICT) start-up companies can prosper.

The Chief Secretary then officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong architecture exhibition, the Aesthetics of Density. The exhibition, part of a Hong Kong Promotion in the Netherlands, will be held in both Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

After touring the exhibits, Mrs Chan proceeded to a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency (EVD) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Brussels. The luncheon, attended by 150 guests, followed a half-day seminar during which speakers from Hong Kong and the Netherlands briefed participants on opportunities in Hong Kong's financial and information technology sectors.

In the afternoon, Mrs Chan will attend a roundtable discussion with the Netherlands Institute for International Relations, Clingendael. The institute acts as an advisory body to the Dutch Government and members of parliament, and offers specialised training for civil servants and diplomats.

On Wednesday (Amsterdam time June 21), the Chief Secretary will meet the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jozias van Aartsen and Deputy Prime Minister Mrs Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink.

She will also visit the Parliament for a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs, after which she will attend a lunch hosted by Mr Frits Korthals Altes, President of the Senate and Chairman of the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion. In the afternoon Mrs Chan will depart for Brussels, the final leg of her European tour.

Photo: Mrs Chan cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of the Hong Kong Exhibition in Amsterdam. Also at the ceremony are Director of Information Services, Mr Thomas Chan (second from left), Director of Architectural Services, Mr Pau Shiu Hung (far right), Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Mr Andrew Wong(far left) and Chairman of the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects, Professor Jan Brouwer.

End/Tuesday, 20 June 2000

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