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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) started its series of celebrations on the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (June 26, Rome time) with a business luncheon in Rome and a concert in Amsterdam by a Hong Kong band SIU2.
In her welcoming remarks at the business luncheon in Rome, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, said to the 60 Italian guests that since its reunification with Mainland China in 1997, the unique principle of "One Country, Two Systems" has been operating well. Hong Kong continues to enjoy a high degree of autonomy and has kept all its freedoms and its own economic and legal systems, guaranteed by the Basic Law.
Hong Kong has consolidated its position as an international financial, trade and maritime centre, and is continuing to enhance its connectivity with Mainland China in all aspects of its economic development in order to capitalise on the vast opportunities the Mainland offers while maintaining the uniqueness as a SAR.
Keynote speaker, Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Mr Simon Galpin, updated guests on Hong Kong's business environment and explained why the HKSAR is the natural choice for companies looking for a base for entering the Asian market.
Attracted by Hong Kong's ideal location at the heart of Asia, one hour from the Greater Pearl River Delta, by its simple, predictable and low tax system and excellent communications infrastructure, 3,752 Mainland and overseas companies had regional headquarters or regional offices in the city according to the last survey carried out in 2011. Hong Kong is the first place outside the Mainland to have a Renminbi bond market and is the gateway to 3.3 million High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in the Asia Pacific, whose numbers grew by 9.7 percent in 2010. Last year 42 million visitors to the city spent USD 32 billion. Most of the world's leading luxury and fashion retailers (84 percent) are present in Hong Kong, as well as 41 percent of all international retail brands. Mr Galpin added that Hong Kong people possess an essential mix of international market savvy combined with an appreciation of the business culture in the fast-growing Mainland China cities and across Asia.
In the evening of the same day in Amsterdam, HKETO, Brussels brought our music talents from Hong Kong, the band SIU2, to Amsterdam at a concert co-organised with the music conservatory of Amsterdam (Conservatorium van Amsterdam) and supported by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.
The band combines traditional Chinese instruments with a western rhythm section of piano, bass and drums to create a sonic portrayal of modern Hong Kong. It was founded by multi-instrumentalist and composer Mr Ng Cheuk Yin, a sheng virtuoso. The sheng also gives the band its name, "Sheng it up". The concert was attended by around 200 guests who were impressed by SIU2's unique style and creativity. To deepen the cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Amsterdam, SIU2 will attend a music workshop with the Dutch students of the music conservatory on July 27.
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 05:00
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