HKETO and HKTB host Lunar New Year reception in Toronto (with photos)
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In her welcoming remarks, the Director of the Toronto ETO, Miss Kathy Chan, told the guests that in the past year, Hong Kong continued to prosper under the “one country, two systems” principle.
"Hong Kong has been rated as the freest economy in the world for 23 consecutive years by the United States' Heritage Foundation. We also continued to top the Fraser Institute’s World Economic Freedom Index in 2016," Miss Chan said.
"In addition, we have been assessed as the world’s most competitive economy by the International Institute for Management Development," she added.
Turning to Hong Kong-Canada relations, Miss Chan noted that the two places continued to be important trading partners. With the coming into force of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two sides in September 2016, she encouraged more Canadian companies, particularly start-ups, to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
Miss Chan also noted that government exchanges between the two sides are frequent. Apart from visits by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to Canada in February and June, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Justin Trudeau, also made an official visit to Hong Kong in September 2016, during which he met with the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr C Y Leung.
Miss Chan also said that Hong Kong and Canada also share strong human ties. She noted that while the two governments have agreed to increase the 2016 quota of the Working Holiday Scheme from 200 to 300 on a one-off basis, mutual-qualification recognition and student exchanges were also strengthened with the signing of agreements between universities of the two places in the past year.
Miss Chan added that the HKSARG welcomes Canadian people to go to Hong Kong to develop their career. In particular, she said that a new pilot scheme has been operating since May 2015 to attract the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents to pursue careers in the city. As at the end of last year, 37 applications from Canada had been approved.
Air transport is another area showing close Hong Kong-Canadian relations. "We now have on average 12 direct scheduled passenger flights daily between Hong Kong and Canada operated by Cathay Pacific and Air Canada. We are happy to see that the two airlines have recently entered into a joint collaboration agreement, making it easier for travellers from both sides to reach more destinations," Miss Chan said.
Turning to cultural exchange, Miss Chan said that in 2016, under the sponsorship of the Toronto ETO, Hong Kong Ballet toured four Canadian cities with ballet classic “The Sleeping Beauty” and other excerpts in March, while the Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts also staged a Cantonese opera performance of “Monkey King” in Toronto jointly with the Toronto Starlight Chinese Opera Performing Centre in September.
Toronto ETO also continued sponsoring Hong Kong films to participate in prestigious film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Reel Asian International Film Festival. "We also organised a mini film event in May featuring two Hong Kong films which showcased the positive spirit and perseverance of Hong Kong people," said Miss Chan.
Closing her remarks, Miss Chan noted that 2017 not only celebrates the 150th anniversary of the confederation of Canada, but also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. She told the guests that the HKSARG would organise a wide variety of celebration events in Hong Kong, including mega cultural and sports programmes, in the year ahead. She also invited the attendees to join a series of celebration activities in Canada that is being planned by the HKETO.
About 150 guests, among them representatives from the business community, academics and the media, joined the reception.
Ends/Friday, February 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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