************************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (SFETO) celebrated the Year of the Horse with more than 300 distinguished guests, mayors, consuls general, government officials and business leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area at its annual Spring Reception today (February 5, San Francisco time).
Welcoming the guests, the Director of the SFETO, Ms Subrina Chow, said that the trade ties between Hong Kong and the United States have remained strong. For the first 11 months in 2013, US exports to Hong Kong reached nearly US$39 billion, up 17.5 per cent from 2012's figure.
She noted that, economically, Hong Kong fared rather well in light of the global economic gyrations of the past few years. The real GDP growth for 2013 in Hong Kong is forecast at 3 per cent, she said.
Looking back on the past year, Ms Chow thanked many Bay Area organisations for partnering with the Office in organising major business and arts events to promote Hong Kong's innovation, technology and creative industries.
"With the number of incubators and co-work spaces growing five times over the last four years, Hong Kong is now one of the hot spots for global start-ups. An increasing number of entrepreneurs are coming to our city to leverage our advantages and expand their businesses in the Asia Pacific," Ms Chow said.
Looking ahead, she said that the Office will continue to foster partnerships with organisations in northern California and look for opportunities to facilitate the exchange of experience and expertise between the Bay Area and Hong Kong.
Many projects are planned for 2014. "Next month, our Office is joining the sponsors list of CAAMFest for the first time. 'The Way We Dance', a production supported by the Hong Kong Film Development Fund, together with 'Beautiful 2013', a production commissioned by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, and two Grandview movies produced by pioneer San Francisco filmmaker Joseph Sunn Jue that are on loan from the Hong Kong Film Archive will be shown in the festival," Ms Chow said. She invited the guests to stay tuned for other upcoming projects and events.
Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:18
NNNN
