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With WHO's lifting its traveling advisory for Hong Kong, concerted and sustained efforts to reassure international visitors and businesses that Hong Kong is a safe place to travel and invest and to encourage spending to boost local economy has been launched in Hong Kong and in Canada.
Aiming at rebuilding the confidence in Hong Kong, the campaign involves, among other promotional activities, an international advertising blitz, a global tourism drive, international conventions, major sports and cultural events with world renowned personalities, and overseas visits by HKSAR's senior and medical officials to promote Hong Kong and to meet their medical counterparts around the world.
This was stated by the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), Mrs Rosanna Ure, today (May 26, Toronto time) when she updated the media of Hong Kong's latest SARS situation and plans to relaunch Hong Kong.
She said Hong Kong's SARS situation was significantly improving with zero case on May 24 (Hong Kong time) and only one new case each on May 25 and May 26 (Hong Kong time).
The number of SARS patients in Hong Kong's intensive care unit continues to drop to a new low of 37 from 127 in mid-April. These 37 are among 109 cases under treatment in hospital, of which 74 are recovering patients in convalescence and in preparation for discharge.
Also attending today's press conference were the Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mrs Aliana Ho; Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr Andrew Yui and the President of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) (Toronto), Ms Dorothy Jean Mar.
The HKETO Director said in view of the local sentiment as a result of the recurrence of SARS cases in Toronto, the HKETO, HKTB, HKTDC and HKCBA would support the relaunch program initiated by the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group chaired by the HKSAR Financial Secretary and take a measured pace in organizing their activities in major Canadian cities to rebuild Canadians' confidence in Hong Kong.
Mrs Ure said the HKETO was closely co-ordinating with HKTB and HKTDC to support their efforts to revitalize Canadians' interests in travels to Hong Kong and doing businesses in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region.
As far as HKETO's promotional plan is concerned, it has started with a series of visits by the HKETO Director to brief provincial health ministers and research institutions to enhance understanding and collaboration between Hong Kong and Canada. It will be followed by a major Hong Kong Film Festival featuring a series of the best films directed by John Woo. Entitled "Gems from Asia's Hollywood - A Retrospect of John Woo", the film festival will promote the dynamism of Hong Kong films and the achievements of Hong Kong's film industry.
"The film festival will be staged in Toronto at the end of June and in Vancouver at the end of July as the first major event to relaunch Hong Kong. It will also mark the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR," said Mrs Ure, adding that discussions were ongoing with a view to bringing the festival to Calgary.
Further details of the film festival will be announced at a press conference scheduled for next week.
Other promotional activities under active planning include a Hong Kong Expo in Quebec City in August, a major promotion in Ottawa in September and a major Hong Kong exhibition in Montreal in October. A series of Hong Kong-Canada business promotion activities will also be held in Toronto and Vancouver in November/December.
In addition, the HKETO will be supporting a series of major trade fairs to be organized by the HKTDC from June to November with a view to encouraging more Canadian buyers to visit and do business with Hong Kong.
These include "The Hong Kong Fashion Week", "Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair" and "Hong Kong International Film TV Market".
The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also be organizing in Canada in the next few months a series of travel trade road shows and consumer promotions as well as familiarization visits to Hong Kong by travel-trade media.
In addition, the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association will be organizing its forthcoming National Board meeting in October in Hong Kong as part of the "Hong Kong Forum" of all Hong Kong associations of overseas countries.
End/Tuesday, May 27, 2003
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