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At a Chinese New Year reception to welcome the Year of the Rat, Ms Lorna Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Sydney, said 2007 had been a good year for Hong Kong.
Speaking at the reception in Brisbane today (January 31), jointly hosted by the HKETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Queensland Chapter of the Hong Kong-Australia Business Association, Ms Wong said Hong Kong's real gross domestic product grew by 6% in 2007 after an average of 7.4% per year for three years. Hong Kong continued to rank second in Asia as a destination for foreign direct investment. The number of incoming tourists was at a record high.
"As to our trade with Australia, the total volume for the year 06/07 amounted to A$4.5 billion. The relationship is even closer in the areas of education and investment, as Hong Kong is Australia¡¦s fourth largest source of international students and foreign investment," she said in her maiden Chinese New Year speech since her arrival in September last year.
Looking ahead, Ms Wong said that Hong Kong was proud to be a co-host city for Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events in 2008. She also noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would focus on strengthening its position as a global financial hub and as an international convention, exhibition and tourism capital. It would also step up efforts to bring new and high quality talent into Hong Kong.
The reception initiates a series of Chinese New Year celebratory activities organised by the HKETO. In February and March, similar receptions will be held in other major cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. In Sydney, HKETO will also participate in the Dragon Boat Race and film screening under the Chinese New Year Festival organised by the City of Sydney.
Ends/Thursday, January 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:16
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