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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, started her two-day Vancouver visit today (November 24, Vancouver time) to promote ties between Asia・s world city and Canada・s Pacific gateway.
Mrs Lau stopped in Vancouver on her way back to Hong Kong after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meetings in Lima, Peru.
On her first visit to Vancouver as Hong Kong・s top trade official, Mrs Lau met Vancouver Mayor, Mr Sam Sullivan, to discuss ways to further enhance the relationship between the two places, including the possibility of co-operation between Hong Kong and Vancouver in the application of the Octopus card technology.
Mrs Lau also met students of the University of British Columbia at a lunch reception. She updated the students on the latest economic situation in Hong Kong and encouraged them to go to Hong Kong for visits, internships, student exchanges as well as career development after graduation. About 50 students attended the event.
After the lunch reception, Mrs Lau paid a study visit to the Port of Vancouver and toured its terminal facilities. Representatives of the Port briefed Mrs Lau on the operation of its two terminals. The Port of Vancouver handled 82.7 million tonnes of cargo in 2007 and is the homeport for the Vancouver-Alaska cruise; one of the world・s most popular cruises.
Mrs Lau also visited Absolute Software Corporation, which was named by British Columbia Technology Industry Association as the ：Company of the Year 2008；, to learn more about its global expansion plan. Absolute Software is a Vancouver-based IT company specialising in computer secure asset tracking, theft recovery and data protection solution. She discussed with the management of the company on the advantages of Hong Kong in the Asia-Pacific region, and its important role in the region・s IT development.
Before wrapping up her visit tomorrow, Mrs Lau will deliver a keynote speech entitled ：Global Financial Crisis: Hong Kong・s game plan and Canadian opportunities； at a luncheon seminar presented by the Vancouver Board of Trade in co-operation with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Canada, and the Vancouver section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association. She will also meet the Vancouver media and visit the Emily Carr University.
Ends/Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:38
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