Hong Kong delegation to attend World Economic Forum

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Henry Tang, will head a delegation of Hong Kong business leaders and government officials to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting to be held in Davos, Switzerland from January 23 to 28.

The WEF annual meeting this year will be on the theme of 'building trust', and will focus on the world economy, global governance and corporate challenges. The meeting will provide a platform for the world's business elite and political leaders to lay the groundwork for sustained growth and development.

During the meeting, Mr Tang will lead discussions in two major workshops, one on the 'Future of Asian Economies' and the other on 'International Trade and Capacity Building'.

He will host a Hong Kong networking dinner to be attended by leading business executives, academics and media representatives. InvestHK will also organise a breakfast briefing session, in which Mr Tang will speak on Hong Kong's unique economic role in the Pearl River Delta.

He will also take the opportunity to make brief stopovers in Geneva and Brussels. While in Geneva, Mr Tang will meet the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, and the Geneva-based trade representatives of some of Hong Kong's major trading partners, including Ambassador Sun Zhenyu of China's Permanent Mission to the WTO.

In Brussels, Mr Tang will meet the European Communities Commissioner for Trade, Mr Pascal Lamy, as well as senior Belgian officials. He will return to Hong Kong on January 29.

The Hong Kong delegation comprises:

Mr Victor Chu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, First Eastern Investment Group

Mr Chung Po Yang, Co-founder & Chairman Emeritus, DHL International Ltd

Mr Gary Coull, Executive Chairman, CLSA Ltd

Mr James WJ Hughes-Hallett, Chairman, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd

Mr Charles YK Lee, Chairman, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd

Mr Richard Li, Chairman & Chief Executive, PCCW Ltd

Mr Victor Lo, Chairman and Chief Executive, Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Ltd

Mr Yat Siu, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Outblaze Ltd

Mr Joshua Law, Permanent Representative of the HKSAR to the WTO

Mr Mike Rowse, Director-General of Investment Promotion, InvestHK

End/Tuesday, January 21, 2003