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.
香港經貿處處長到訪溫哥華及本拿比進行商務推廣
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於五月十七日至十九日到訪溫哥華及本拿比，進行為期三天的商務推廣。
巫菀菁在訪問行程首日參與由本拿比商會舉辦的二○二三香港商務交流會，向當地商界分享香港的最新發展。
巫菀菁先點出香港在「一國兩制」原則下享有的優勢，即實施其出入境、貿易和法律制度，且能發揮毗連亞洲包括中國內地、聯通世界的獨特角色，促進東西方資金、人才和知識自由流通。
她指出：「香港作為國際金融中心，正積極發展成為世界級集資平台、中外文化藝術交流中心、創科樞紐及知識產權貿易中心。香港今年恢復通關，我誠邀各位到訪香港，體驗該處的新發展並發掘機遇。」
巫菀菁於五月十八日出席港加商會（溫哥華分會）舉辦，主題為「香港機遇」的商務交流活動，向與會者解說香港已從疫情中重回正軌，不僅為全球企業和人才締造商機，更歡迎旅客來港遊覽消遣。
除了西九文化區的世界級博物館和展覽場地、廣深港高鐵和廣珠澳大橋等新建設之外，香港還有不少新遊樂熱點，包括新款山頂纜車、海洋公園新開幕的水上樂園，以及充滿藝術氣息的購物商場等。
同日下午，巫菀菁拜會加拿大卑詩省就業、經濟發展及創新策略廳和加拿大全球事務部貿易專員服務處的溫哥華辦事處，分別與就業、經濟發展及創新策略廳高級經理（大中華）Raymond Zhu及貿易專員服務處太平洋區域總監Renee Umezuki進行會晤，並向他們簡介香港的最新發展。
巫菀菁於五月十九日總結是次訪問行程，與溫哥華機場管理局商務租賃（貨櫃）經理Jason Tse會面，就空運貨櫃乘載量及其他相關問題交流意見。
是次訪問行程期間，投資推廣署加拿大辦事處投資推廣總監陳立智，以及香港貿易發展局加拿大代表芮紹能亦有出席兩場商務推廣活動。巫菀菁於五月十九日下午返回多倫多。
