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More than 350 distinguished guests, consul-generals, senior government officials and business leaders celebrated the Year of the Rat at a Spring Reception, hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco.
Hong Kong Commissioner Miss Margaret Fong joined the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Ms Doris Cheung, in hosting the event today (February 13, San Francisco time).
Miss Fong said, ：This year・s celebrated event will be the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Hong Kong has the great honour of staging the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events this summer. It will be an historic occasion for Hong Kong people as the Olympic Torch passes through the territory on its way to Beijing.；
：While Hong Kong will be first city on Chinese soil to receive the Olympic flame, San Francisco is the only city in the United States to stage the Olympic Torch Relay. Here in the Bay Area, our office will be organising a series of celebrations from April to commemorate Hong Kong as a proud Olympic co-host city and share the Olympic spirit and friendship,； Ms Cheung said.
：We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead on sports and culture, and equally vibrant is Hong Kong・s economic growth. Our GDP had an average growth of 7.4% in the past three years. To further improve the efficiency and competitiveness of our economy, we will pursue infrastructure projects including new bridges and highways to serve our port, a 30km bridge connecting Hong Kong to Macau and the Mainland of China, as well as enhanced links between Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen Airport. These new infrastructure projects will also mean new business opportunities, especially for those in the engineering sector,； she said.
：We will endeavour to enhance our dual role as a global city and a city in China. We will provide an unparallelled two-way platform for overseas companies to access the China market and Chinese companies to go international.；
Miss Fong said Hong Kong was the world・s seventh largest stock market and raised more than $37 billion in IPOs last year. ：In 2007, Hong Kong attracted $42.9 billion in foreign direct investment. We are currently home to 6,440 overseas firms and our exports of goods and services rose by 10% and 15% respectively last year,； Miss Fong said.
Hong Kong was ranked the world・s freest economy for the 14th consecutive year by The Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal. In addition, Asia・s World City was honoured by CEI Asia Pacific magazine as the best city for convention and exhibition support services. More than 300 international conventions and exhibitions are held in Hong Kong each year.
：As we move forward, we will work to further entrench Hong Kong・s position as an international financial and trading centre, tourist destination and convention and exhibition hub,； Miss Fong said.
A highlight of the reception was the lion and dragon dance performance, led by an all-girl team. Exhibition panels about the upcoming Olympic Equestrian events in Hong Kong were also displayed.
Ends/Thursday, February 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:18
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