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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, continued his week-long European tour on June 27 by journeying to Salzburg where he is taking part in the three-day programme of the Salzburg Seminar, a prestigious international educational centre in Europe.
Mr Wong also officiated the opening of an exhibition of black and white photographs of Hong Kong, entitled "Hong Kong Vision".
Speaking at the Salzburg Seminar's dinner yesterday (June 28) co-hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as a celebration of Hong Kong's relationship with the Salzburg Seminar, Mr Wong said that Hong Kong's success in overcoming the virus was enormously helped by the openness of its society, and the strength of its medical and research establishment.
"We worked closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) whose senior personnel have thanked Hong Kong for the contribution of our outstanding scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians, who were at the forefront of efforts to track down source cases in the various clusters, identify the causative agent, develop diagnostic tests, and work out treatment protocols," he said.
"The WHO has just delisted Hong Kong as a SARS-affected area, we want to relaunch Hong Kong as a world city of renewed vitality."
Hong Kong's Civil Service, one of the most dedicated, professional, efficient, and corruption-free civil services in the world, had again risen to the challenge, Mr Wong said. He encouraged members of the audience to visit Hong Kong, saying they would experience the efficiency of our public service as soon as they landed in our beautiful airport.
Mr Wong said he looked forward to developing Hong Kong's relationship with the Salzburg Seminar and playing a part towards its goal of international dialogue. He noted that as Secretary for the Civil Service, he had sent many of the Civil Service's promising young managers to attend conferences there.
He said that Hong Kong and Mainland authorities were about to conclude a Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, which would stimulate Hong Kong's economic growth and be a cause for celebration. He said that it was also very satisfying to celebrate the value of culture and the arts in the international dialogue to which the Salzburg Seminar was dedicated. Hong Kong's openness had helped its business and professions to flourish and had also helped Hong Kong to develop a vibrant and unique culture.
In opening the exhibition of black and white photos, Mr Wong said that the photos at the "Hong Kong Vision" captured the fusion of East and West, the vibrant economy, the cultural diversity of a crowded but highly efficient city, and the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's way of life.
"As you may be aware, Hong Kong was affected by the SARS disease in the past few months. Now I am pleased to tell you that the epidemic is over and our life is back to normal again. When you visit Hong Kong, you will be received by smiling faces and can enjoy the cosmopolitan life of Hong Kong as usual, like what you see from the photos in this exhibition," said Mr Wong.
In welcoming the delegation and guests from the Hong Kong SAR, Salzburg Seminar President, Dr Olin Robison noted that "the Seminar is dedicated to promoting international dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. Founded immediately after World War II to bring together primarily Europeans and Americans, the Seminar today is global in its programs and is especially engaged with Hong Kong and other regions throughout Asia. Few forums in the world today can provide tomorrow's leaders with the international exposure provided by programs in Salzburg in which 150 countries are represented over the course of a year."
End/Sunday, June 29, 2003
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