**************************************************
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, urged participants at a workshop today (March 26) to take a long, hard look at Hong Kong's future strengths and weaknesses and how the city would position itself down the road in order to successfully revitalise Brand Hong Kong (BrandHK).
Mr Tsang said, "What's required is a team effort, to not only reach a consensus on Hong Kong's aspirations and direction, but also on how to communicate our goals to the stakeholders and the public as well as a wider audience around the world."
Mr Tsang was speaking at the opening of a strategic visioning workshop attended by more than 30 senior government officials and heads of quasi-government and non-government organisations which have a role to play in promoting Hong Kong and its economy or industries. The workshop provided a platform for the key players of BrandHK to exchange views on Hong Kong's vision and positioning.
BrandHK is a communications tool launched by the Administration in 2001 to promote Hong Kong as "Asia's world city" overseas and on the Mainland. The 2007-08 Policy Address spelt out an initiative to revitalise BrandHK, and as a first step, the Administration has set out to review the implementation of the BrandHK programme, including its core values and vision.
Mr Tsang said that since the launch of the brand seven years ago, the phrase "Asia's world city" had become part of the local vernacular and the "flying dragon" logo had been well received overseas.
However, he asked participants to consider whether Hong Kong's competitive positioning was still relevant today and, more importantly, whether it would still be relevant in the future.
He said, "We all have different ideas, different visions, and different priorities for Hong Kong. But we need to be all pulling in the same direction with a common purpose if we want Hong Kong to keep on succeeding.
"And that includes making sure that everyone in Hong Kong understands where we are heading, why we are moving in that direction and what role they can play.
"Inside government, this is also a good opportunity to think about how our bureaus and departments can facilitate the promotion of Hong Kong and contribute to the revitalised BrandHK platform in the future," Mr Tsang said.
Looking ahead, Mr Tsang outlined the likely development that would have taken place in Hong Kong in 10 years' time.
Among other things, he highlighted the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the completion of a new cruise terminal at the old Kai Tak airport site, the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other infrastructure projects connecting Hong Kong with the Mainland.
In considering Hong Kong's future direction, Mr Tsang urged participants to take into account whether China's continued reform process and competition from cities on the Mainland and in the neighbouring region would affect Hong Kong's status as a gateway to the Mainland and its existing pillar industries.
He also suggested that participants should consider how urban renewal could reconcile with heritage conservation and whether policies and laws needed to change to cope with ageing in the community and advancement in Information Technology.
Encouraging participants to think bold, Mr Tsang said, "We are starting today with an open mind ready to sketch on a blank sheet of paper with a pencil of endless possibilities. All options are on the table. I encourage you all to be as frank, open-minded and forward-looking as you dare."
Thanking participants for taking part in the workshop as it drew to a close, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, said that as major stakeholders of the brand, their ideas, hard work and passion for this city would be a strong foundation on which BrandHK could succeed both at home and overseas.
"Today's workshop has an important part to play in energising the Brand. It is a starting point, not an end point. Now that we have a better idea of our shared vision for Hong Kong, I encourage all of you to continue developing the initiatives so that we can take the process to the next level," he urged.
The workshop is the first in a series of public engagement activities to be held in the coming months. Different sections of the community, including the business, creative and education sectors, will be involved through activities such as online forums, focus groups, consultation sessions and competitions.
Ends/Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:09
NNNN
