**************************************************

    A Mainland China business plan "is no longer an option for Canadian companies; it's a must", according to the federal Minister of International Trade, the Hon James Peterson.

    The eight sections of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, are teaming up to present the HKCBA's first annual national Canada-Hong Kong business forum in Ottawa on May 30 (Canadian time).

    With the theme "Your Smart Link to China: Hong Kong", the one-day forum will be held at the Ottawa Congress Centre. "It helps Canadian businesses forge a Mainland China strategy, identify the right approaches, focus on the appropriate opportunities, and address the challenges," said Frank Ling, a co-chair of the forum. Experts from across Canada and Hong Kong will explain how Hong Kong can be one of the imperative factors in securing business success by providing a "smart link" for Canadian businesses to tap into the Mainland market.

    The business forum will include panel presentations and round-table discussions on various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies. Topics to be discussed include "Business Opportunities in China - is Canadian Business Meeting the Challenge?", "Your Smart Link to China: Hong Kong", "Hong Kong-China: Canada's New Bio Growth Opportunity" and "Information, Communications & Technology".  

    A special presentation, "My Win-Win Road to China: A Hong Kong Entrepreneur's Story" is to be given by Miss Annie Wu, Executive Chair of the World Trade Centre Association, and Vice Chair of Beijing Air Catering Co Ltd. Miss Wu established the first joint venture between Hong Kong and Mainland China in 1980. Since then, she has headed 15 joint ventures in the Mainland and has been appointed to the Standing Committee of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

    Experts from the public and private sectors of Canada and Hong Kong will speak on a number of topics:

* "CEPA & Hong Kong's Economic Integration" by Mike Rowse, Director General of Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG);

* "ICT Trends in Hong Kong and China" by Howard Dickson, Government Chief Information Officer of the HKSARG (Dickson was the Assistant Deputy Minister Information Management of Canada's Department of National Defence before moving to Hong Kong);

* "Opportunities for Natural Products in Canada's Healthcare System" by Dr Zul Merali, President and CEO, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research; and Dr John Arnason, Professor of the Department of Biology, University of Ottawa.

    Gary Comerford, Vice President, International, of Sun Life Financial, will be delivering a luncheon speech, "Our Launching Pad for Asian Expansion."

    Other interesting topics include: "The Size & Potential of the China Market"; "Challenges & Opportunities for Importers & Exporters"; "IP Rights & Wrongs in the PRC"; "ICT Trends in Hong Kong & China"; and "Canada-Hong Kong-China Tripartite Business Opportunities for Technology Companies".

    Forum partners include: the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; City of Ottawa; British Columbia Department of Small Business & Economic Development; Information Technology Association of Canada; Manitoba Trade & Investment; Nova Scotia Business Inc; Ontario Exports Inc; Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation; Ottawa Chamber of Commerce; Ottawa Life Sciences Council; Saskatchewan Trade & Exporter Partnership; and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

    The national forum, supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Tourism Board, has invited the federal Minister of Industry, the Hon David Emerson, to participate in the opening discussions on May 30 (Canadian time).  

    A pre-forum reception, to be hosted by Senator Vivienne Poy, will be held at the Parliament Hill on May 29 (Canadian time). The forum's sponsors, speakers, moderators, organising committee members, and HKCBA board members from across Canada will be invited to attend.

    The HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways, HSBC Bank Canada, Sun Life Financial, Quam Limited, Export Development Canada, Business Development Bank, IE Canada, Goodmans LLP, VIA Rail, and Nelligan O'Brien Payne. Media sponsors include the Canadian Business Magazine, Ottawa Citizen and Rogers OMNI. The Hotel Sponsor is Sheraton Ottawa Hotel, and the Design Sponsor is Era Integrated.

    For registration and further information on the business forum, please visit:  www.hkcba.com/canhkforum, or call HKCBA at 416-366-2642.

Ends/Saturday, May 21, 2005

NNNN