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Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Toronto today (December 6, Toronto time) launched the "Hong Kong under Spotlight" which will support a series of promotion events in partnership with different organisations. These events include the presentation of business achievement awards, investment pitch competitions, Hong Kong films gala and support for academic research project.
"2014 will be an important year for advancing the bilateral trade relations between Hong Kong and Canada," Director of HKETO in Toronto, Miss Gloria Lo said. "The business communities in both places will start to benefit from the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which was signed between Hong Kong and Canada in 2012 and ratified in 2013. At the same time, the Hong Kong SAR has been named one of the targeted overseas markets in the 'Global Markets Action Plan' recently announced by Canada's Ministry of International Trade to help Canadian businesses of all sizes further expand and grow around the world."
On business promotion, the HKETO in Toronto will co-present with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) the first-ever "Hong Kong-Canada Business Achievement Award" in 2014. "The purpose is to give recognition to the outstanding achievement of Canadian enterprises which have successful operations in Hong Kong, and to inspire the others by showcasing their success stories," Miss Lo said.
There are four award categories, namely the "Outstanding Business Performance Award" and the "Outstanding Business Innovation Award" for Canada East and Canada West respectively. Canadian-based companies, entities or organisations with active business operations in Hong Kong are eligible for nomination. Self-nominations are also welcome. The nomination period has already started in early November and will close on January 8, 2014. Presentation ceremonies will be held in Vancouver and Toronto around March and April 2014.
"2014 is also the year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of HKCBA and mark the milestone of partnership between HKETO in Toronto and HKCBA," former President of HKCBA (Toronto Section), Mr Peter Lawler said. "HKCBA, as Canada's largest bilateral business association, we will continue to help local business community to venture into Asia through Hong Kong."
The award is also supported by the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong, InvestHK, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Richard Ivey Business School of the Western University. For details, please visit HKETO's website at www.hketotoronto.gov.hk .
On cultural side, HKETO in Toronto will co-organise the "Hong Kong Spirit Film Gala" with the Toronto Reel Asia International Film Festival (Reel Asian), the Asian Institute of the University of Toronto, and the Vancouver International Film Centre in spring 2014. A number of Hong Kong films featuring Hong Kong can-do spirit and core values will be screened.
"Reel Asian has been showcasing local and international Asian titles including Hong Kong films to Toronto audiences for the past 17 years," Director of Marketing of Reel Asian, Miss Louanne Chan said. "Hong Kong is home to some of the best and brightest filmmakers and we look forward to presenting both classic films and new selections at the Hong Kong Spirit Film Series next year. Film details will be announced soon."
Hong Kong and Canada also have established a strong social link through migration and other exchanges. The Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library of the University of Toronto (Canada-Hong Kong Library) will develop an academic research project highlighting the migration impact. HKETO in Toronto will support the project as part of its "Hong Kong under Spotlight" series.
"The Hong Kong Canada Crosscurrent Project is a partnership among the Canada-Hong Kong Library, the HKETO in Toronto, University of British Columbia, the Simon Fraser University and the University of Hong Kong," Director of Canada-Hong Kong Library, Dr Jack Leong said. "It primarily aims to research and document a large flow of migrants between Canada and Hong Kong in the last 50 years (1962-2012) and to illustrate how these interactions and migrations have transformed both societies." Dr Leong also noted that Dr Vivienne Poy will serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board for this project.
Beside, the HKETO in Toronto will support the relevant sections of HKCBA to organise investment pitch competitions for university students in three major cities including Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal next year.
"We hope that the competitions will help enhance the understanding of young people about Hong Kong and to generate their interest in finding opportunities in Hong Kong," Miss Lo added.
Ends/Saturday, December 7, 2013
Issued at HKT 08:47
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