Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, paid a three-day visit to Vancouver and Burnaby from May 17 to 19 for business promotion.

On her first day of the tour, Ms Mo attended the 2023 Hong Kong Business Connections Reception organised by the Burnaby Board of Trade to update the local business community of the developments of Hong Kong.

Ms Mo first highlighted the privileges Hong Kong enjoys under the “one country, two systems” principle in which Hong Kong, with its own immigration, trade and legal systems, plays a unique role in connecting Asia including the Mainland China and other parts of the world, enabling the flow of capital, talent and knowledge between the East and West.

“As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is enhancing its role as a world-class fund-raising platform, an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, an I&T hub and an intellectual property trading hub,” she said. “With the resumption of free travel this year, I sincerely invite you to visit the city and explore the new developments and opportunities available to you.”

On May 18, Ms Mo attended another business networking event entitled “Opportunities in Hong Kong” organised by Hong Kong Canadian Business Association (Vancouver Chapter). She shared with the participants that Hong Kong is back in terms of creating business opportunity for companies and talents from around the world as well as welcoming travellers for pleasure and leisure.

Besides new developments such as the West Kowloon Cultural District with world-class museums and exhibition spaces, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Guangdong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hong Kong also has new leisure offerings to explore. These include the new peak tram, the water world at Ocean Park, artistic shopping malls and many more.

In the afternoon, Ms Mo also paid courtesy calls to the Vancouver offices of the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia and the Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada. Meetings were held respectively with Senior Manager (Greater China) of the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Mr Raymond Zhu; and Regional Director of Pacific Regional Office of the Trade Commissioner Service Ms Renee Umezuki. Ms Mo briefed them on the latest developments of Hong Kong.

Concluding her visit programme on May 19, Ms Mo met with the Commercial Leasing (Cargo) Manager of the Vancouver Airport Authority, Mr Jason Tse. They exchanged views on the air cargo capacity and other related issues.

Ms Mo was joined by the Head of Invest Hong Kong Canada, Mr Christopher Chen, and the Director (Canada) of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Andrew Yui at the two business promotion events. She returned to Toronto in the afternoon of May 19.