 |
| No.2 February, 2010 |
|
| |
|
| |
More celebrations to welcome the Year of the Tiger |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 Hong Kong and Sydney enjoyed a shared bond as leading financial centres within the Asia Pacific Region, the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Ms Lorna Wong, said at the Chinese New Year Reception in Sydney (February 16).
Ms Wong welcomed the Australian Government's plans to promote the country as a regional financial centre. Australia's Minister for Financial Services, Mr Chris Bowen, outlined Australia's intention to build stronger relationships with well developed regional financial markets when he attended the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong in January.
 Ms Wong said she agreed with Mr Bowen that greater co-operation between regional financial centres had the potential to realise substantial mutual benefits.
"Asia is leading the global economic recovery and Hong Kong stands ready to engage Australia in this important area," Ms Wong said.
 She said Australia's economy had been one of the world's best performers, growing by 0.5 per cent in the year to September 2009. That made Australia one of only three advanced economies to have recorded positive growth despite the global financial crisis (GFC), she added.
Reinforcing Hong Kong's regional significance, Ms Wong referred to Time magazine's recent review of the performance of three world financial capitals – New York, London and Hong Kong - during the GFC.
"Time found that Hong Kong has benefitted at the expense of the other two cities because it stands right at the centre of the Asian-led global recovery," Ms Wong said.
“Indeed, leading world bankers see Hong Kong as the springboard to participation in the Asian growth story. Take capital-raising as an example, the total amount raised through IPO listings in Hong Kong in 2009 amounted to more than US$31 billion, more than the markets in New York and London combined.
"As Time pointed out, Hong Kong's biggest advantage is its special relationship with China. Hong Kong remains China's primary international financial centre and that has had its benefits."
In Melbourne, where the Premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby, officiated at the New Year celebrations (February 22), Ms Lorna Wong thanked the Premier for leading an extended list of distinguished guests and community representatives in attending the reception.
In her official address, she paid tribute to the people of Victoria for overcoming the Black Saturday bushfires a year ago.
"The efforts of the Victorian Government and the people of Victoria, following the tragic Black Saturday bushfires a year ago, have been an inspiration to us all and we continue to admire their resolve and determination as they travel the long road to recovery," Ms Wong said.
"Last year also saw a reinforcement of our close ties through a number of high level exchanges by senior officials, including Premier Brumby's visit to Hong Kong last September.
"Based on this solid foundation, Victoria and Hong Kong continue to build bridges and share expertise in various areas, and one recent example of this was the commencement of the management of Melbourne metropolitan rail network by Metro Trains Melbourne, a consortium led by Hong Kong's MTR Corporation."
Ms Wong noted the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, visited Melbourne last year to tour the city's cultural icons. The visit provided valuable insights to assist with the development of the West Kowloon cultural precinct.
"In September, HKETO will collaborate with Melbourne Cinematheque, for the first time, to host a retrospective of one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished actresses, Maggie Cheung."
At the New Year reception held in Auckland, New Zealand, (February 25), Ms Wong said the free trade agreement reached between Hong Kong and New Zealand late last year would bring significant growth to the bilateral trade.
"The conclusion of a Closer Economic Partnership is a landmark achievement, as it is Hong Kong's first free trade agreement with a foreign economy. The CEP will open a new chapter in Hong Kong-New Zealand trade relations and provide unique avenues for business enterprises to explore trade and investment opportunities," she said.
The CNY receptions were jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the respective Chapters of the Hong Kong-Australia Business Association in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association has also joined in to host the reception in Auckland. Similar reception will be held in Canberra in March. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
