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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, will lead a high-level business delegation to promote Hong Kong in Germany and the Netherlands next week. In addition, Mrs Chan will pay an official visit to Brussels.

Mrs Chan will call on the Belgian Government on June 14 before moving on to Berlin on June 15 to kick-off the Hong Kong Promotion in Europe. She will visit Hamburg from June 18 to 19, and Amsterdam and the Hague from June 20 to 21. The Chief Secretary for Administration will be back in Brussels from June 21 to 22 for meetings with the European Commission and the European Parliament and will visit an environmental company on June 23.

The Hong Kong Promotion in Europe is organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in association with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association.

The aim is to foster closer economic and cultural links between Hong Kong and Europe as well as to facilitate a better understanding of Hong Kong's latest situation and business opportunities.

During the promotion tour, Mrs Chan will deliver keynote speeches at business conferences and luncheons to be held in Berlin, Hamburg and Amsterdam. She will brief the European business communities on recent developments in Hong Kong, including the latest economic prospects following the strong rebound in the Asian region. She will also focus on the challenges and opportunities arising from China's imminent accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Hong Kong business leaders on the delegation will also help to spread the Hong Kong message at various speaking occasions and conferences. They include the Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Dr Victor K Fung; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Mr Andrew L T Sheng; Vice Chairman & Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. and Executive Director of the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Mr Vincent H C Cheng; the Chairman of the Board of Chinadotcom Corporation, Dr Raymond Ch'ien; the Director and Chief Operating Officer of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Mr Philip N L Chen; the Chairman of Jebsen & Co Ltd, Mr Hans Michael Jebsen; the Managing Director of SUNeVision Holdings Ltd, Mr Herbert H M Hui and the Chief Executive Officer of Philips Electronics China Group, Mr Rob Westerhof.

One of the highlights of the promotion tour is the launch of a large-scaled Hong Kong exhibition in Berlin, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Entitled "The Aesthetics of Connection, Hong Kong : A Model of Living Architecture", the exhibition serves to illustrate the efficiency and high degree of connectivity within Hong Kong through a well developed network of pedestrian linkages, roads and railways. Hong Kong is also well connected to the rest of the world through frequent and expanding air links, and through the cyberspace and telecommunication technology. Mr Pau Shiu-hung, the Director of Architectural Services, and Mr Anthony Ng, a renowned Hong Kong architect, will give lectures at the exhibitions in Berlin and Amsterdam to share the Hong Kong experience.

Another highlight of the Promotion is the Gala Dinner in Berlin, during which spectacular choreographed lion and dragon dances will be performed by a champion team from Hong Kong.

The Chief Secretary for Administration will launch a Hong Kong Food Week in Berlin at an opening dinner serving authentic Chinese cuisine prepared by chefs from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Tourist Association will hold a cultural cum entertainment programme in Berlin to attract tourists to Hong Kong.

Besides the above-mentioned promotional activities, Mrs Chan's programme also includes political calls and meetings with senior government officials, politicians, think tanks and media representatives.

Mrs Chan will depart Hong Kong on June 13 evening and return to Hong Kong on June 24.

End/Friday, June 9, 2000

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