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The new Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Mr Steve Barclay, officiated at the "Ring the NYSE Opening Bell" ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange today (August 6, New York time) to usher in the 24th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York. The HKETONY is one of the major sponsors of the colourful festival.
The largest multi-cultural festival in the New York metropolitan area and the biggest festival of its kind in the US, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, taking place this Saturday and Sunday (August 9 to 10), features the New York Dragon Boat Championships and the US Dragon Boat Open Championship Races, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the 1964 World's Fair.
Newly assuming the post on August 5, Mr Barclay is responsible for promoting and strengthening the business, trade and cultural ties between Hong Kong and 31 eastern states of the United States.
Prior to the appointment, Mr Barclay was the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney for four years until July 2014. Before then, he was a public sector reform advocate and internal management consultant in the Government's Efficiency Unit for nearly a decade.
Mr Barclay has served in a wide variety of posts within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG), with policy responsibilities including consumer protection, intellectual property, housing, and environmental protection.¡@He has served as a District Officer in Hong Kong and also as Hong Kong's economic and commercial representative in Brussels. Mr Barclay has twice been responsible for drafting the Chief Executive's Policy Address.
Mr Barclay first joined the Hong Kong Government as an Inspector in the Hong Kong Police in 1979 and was transferred to the civil service in 1982.
The HKETONY is one of the three official offices of the HKSARG in the United States. The other two offices are in Washington DC and San Francisco.
Ends/Thursday, August 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 09:00
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