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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, at the 40th Distinguished Salesperson Award presentation ceremony today (June 13):
Ms (Cheryl) Yue, Ms (Salina) Ip, Mr (Willis) Turner, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is an honour to be here at the Distinguished Salesperson Award (DSA) presentation ceremony tonight. I am pleased to address the most outstanding sales and marketing personnel in Hong Kong and to personally congratulate this year's winners of the Distinguished Salesperson Award, which is often dubbed the "Oscars" of the sales and marketing profession. You all are stars of your profession, exemplifying the "customers first" attitude. While we in the Government strive to serve each member of our community in implementing "people-based governance", I see much common grounds in our approach in doing our jobs.
Commendation for DSA and its organisers
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I would like to also extend my thanks and recognition to the Sales and Marketing Executives Club under the Hong Kong Management Association for its tireless efforts in organising the annual award scheme, and to congratulate you on the 40th anniversary of the awards. Your work has helped to raise the quality and professionalism of sales and marketing personnel, as well as the image of the profession and the awareness of the importance of sales and marketing in different sectors.
Importance of salesmanship and link with public service
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Sales and marketing are not unique to the retail sector. It is in fact an essential element of every sector that has a public interface. As shown by the record numbers and wide spectrum of participating companies and personnel in recent years, the Distinguished Salesperson Award is recognised not just by traditional retail businesses that clearly rely on their frontline sales and marketing personnel, the award scheme has also been strongly supported by businesses ranging from real estate to financial services, and even public services. Indeed, I can say that professionalism in sales and marketing is the backbone to Hong Kong's continued success as Asia's world city.
To name a few examples, high quality salesmanship is the key to maintaining Hong Kong's reputation as a shopping paradise and popular tourist destination. A tourist's impression of a city is strongly affected by the frontline salespersons that greet him during his visit. Sales and marketing is equally important for Hong Kong to excel as an international financial centre as we compete with other international financial centres to market new financial products and services to local investors and overseas clients - especially as Hong Kong is developing into a leading wealth management centre.
Even in public services, the importance of sales and marketing cannot be underestimated. While we always strive to formulate policies to meet people's needs, how the policy proposals are presented, or "marketed", directly impacts on how the proposal is perceived and received. That's why I believe that your success stories will provide inspirations to us.
And this is just as true overseas as it is at home. I have just led financial delegations to the United States in May and to Russia earlier this month to promote Hong Kong as an international financial centre and a premium capital formation and global investment platform for enterprises around the world. In some ways, I was acting as a "salesman for Hong Kong" during those two trips.
Hong Kong's economic performance
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The importance of sales and marketing to Hong Kong is evidenced by economic data. The services sector has been the key driver of our overall economic growth for quite some time, latest available figures indicated that net output in the services sector rose markedly by 7.5% in real terms in 2007. The financial services sector, in particular, grew at a double-digit rate throughout the year, amidst the active property market and general business expansion. The rapid growth in net output of wholesale and retail trades as well as restaurants and hotels were supported by strength in consumer spending and vibrant inbound tourism. The promising developments of these sectors would not have been possible without the high quality and dedication of our sales and marketing professionals.
Qualities of salesperson = qualities of Hong Kong people
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Indeed, the development of the Hong Kong economy has depended, and always will depend, on the quality of our people. It has long been said that Hong Kong has very limited natural resources - our biggest asset is our people. As I said earlier, all sectors that have a public interface need good sales and marketing professionals for continued growth. I believe that the qualities required of a good salesperson are also the most celebrated strengths of Hong Kong people - namely, flexibility and adaptability, a strong work ethic, and dedication to continually upgrade ourselves.
Good sales and marketing professionals are known for their flexibility in adapting to the needs of different clients as well as to changes in the local and world markets. They are knowledgeable about their products and services but they do not stand still. They are also eager for continuous learning - to acquire new skills as well as to keep updated on the developments on the technological and international fronts. I believe these are some of the qualities that made all of you winners of the Distinguished Salesperson Award. At the same time, they represent the best of qualities of the Hong Kong people.
Closing remarks
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With this solid foundation, we will continue to treasure our biggest asset and our major competitive advantage - our people. This is the key to Hong Kong's continued success as Asia's world city.
The Distinguished Salesperson Award has been a useful platform for giving recognition to leading professionals in the sales and marketing sector and for professionals to exchange and learn from each other. I look to the Sales and Marketing Executives Club and the Hong Kong Management Association in continuing to promote and develop high quality salesmanship by providing quality business training and education for the long-term development of our people in Hong Kong. I encourage you all to keep up the good effort and together, we will ensure that Hong Kong continues to maintain our competitive edge. I will end my speech by congratulating the organising committee of the award scheme and the Sales and Marketing Executives Club as you have left a good legacy and helped the sales and marketing professionals in Hong Kong to unleash their potential to the full.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, June 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:05
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