************************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto (HKETO) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) yesterday (February 18, Vancouver time) jointly hosted a spring dinner reception for the local media in Vancouver to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
In her greetings, the Director of the HKETO, Miss Gloria Lo, thanked the media for its support for the work of the HKETO over the years. She also remarked that the symbol of the horse, with its power, agility and success, can reflect the continuation of the way of life in Hong Kong since reunification with China 16 years ago. "Hong Kong has no doubt continued to maintain its stability and prosperity under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle," Miss Lo said.
Speaking on Hong Kong-Canada relations, Miss Lo said that there were encouraging and exciting developments between the two places last year, in particular between Hong Kong and British Columbia. "The new business and investment promotion office set up by the Government of British Columbia in Hong Kong came into full operation last year. The provincial government has also issued Renminbi bonds through Hong Kong, setting a precedent for such issuance by a foreign government. The official visit by the Mayor of Vancouver to Hong Kong last November was another highlight, boosting the building of stronger relations between Hong Kong and Vancouver, which has one of the largest communities with Hong Kong origins outside Hong Kong."
Miss Lo also took the opportunity to introduce the major upcoming events in Vancouver under the theme of "Hong Kong under Spotlight". "We are pleased to confirm that Gregor Robertson, the Mayor of Vancouver, has proclaimed the week of March 12 to 16 as the Hong Kong Business and Film Week," Miss Lo said. "It will feature a series of activities and programmes to showcase the width and depth of Hong Kong business and filming."
During the week, the presentation ceremony of the first ever Hong Kong-Canada Business Achievement Award, co-presented by the HKETO and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, will be held on March 12 to showcase the success stories of outstanding Canadian enterprises venturing into Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Spirit Film Gala, jointly organised by the HKETO and the Vancouver International Film Centre, will be held from March 14 to 16 to feature three Hong Kong films, namely "Cold War", "The Way We Dance" and "Unbeatable".
Hong Kong is not just a great place for business; it is also a place for fun and leisure. The Director of Canada, Central and South America of the HKTB, Mr Michael Lim, commented that Hong Kong is one of the most popular travel destinations for Canadians in Asia. "There are exciting world-class events and festivals all year round and we have recently launched a series of new Explore Hong Kong Tours offering unique and authentic discoveries. Hong Kong has a multitude of fantastic experiences," Mr Lim said.
Euromonitor International recently released the Top 100 City Destinations Ranking, covering the world's leading cities in terms of international tourist arrivals. Hong Kong maintained its top spot in the ranking.
Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:26
NNNN
