Hong
Kong: Superstar
Remarks by
Hon. David Kilgour
Secretary
of State (Asia-Pacific) and MP (Edmonton-Southeast)
Hong-Kong
Canada Business Association
Ottawa
13 February
2003
Ambassador
Mei Ping, Senator Poy, President Rob Simmons,
ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great
privilege to be with you to welcome the
year of the sheep.
On behalf
of everyone, I’d like to thank President
Rob Simmons and the board for providing
an opportunity to visit with old friends
as a new year begins.
Cette organisation
a très bien su aider les gens d’affaires
de tirer profit de leurs expériences
mutuelles afin de mieux profiter ensemble
du trésor que constitue Hong Kong.
En outre, l’association a contribué
à démystifier le processus
de mener des activités commerciales
dans cette région. L’important
rôle d’intermédiaire et
de facilitateur qu’elle joue a amené
les gens d’affaires tout comme les
représentants du gouvernement à
bien vouloir participer à l’avenir
de cet important organisme.
The HKCBA’s
vitality comes about through the efforts
the dedicated staff and board and the undeniable
potential and reality that is Hong Kong.
In November, I participated in a successful
mission to Hong Kong organized by the Hong
Kong Economic and Trade Office. Canada’s
natural advantage was self-evident. It is
rooted in the fact that most if not all
Hong Kong residents have connections to
this side of the Pacific; be these friends,
family or property. The 200,000 plus Canadians
living in Hong Kong emphasize the reciprocal
nature of this advantage. It also bares
mentioning that Hong Kong is home to the
single largest concentration of Canadian
university-graduates outside of Canada,
which now number over 100 000.
Each time
I visit Hong Kong I’m struck by the
sophistication of its business community,
the respect for the rule of law and the
almost overwhelming spirit of
entrepreneurialism.
It has become a high-tech node for traders
and bankers in East Asia and is taking advantage
of its ideal location at the mouth of the
Pearl River to position itself as an entry
point for the fast track to mainland China.
But of course, I am -- as they say -- singing
to the choir, as this room is filled with
people who are reaping the rewards of their
involvement in Hong Kong.
The real
reason we’re here, ladies and gentlemen,
is to celebrate the new year. As I’m
sure everyone here knows, the lunar new
year celebration evolved from the legend
of a Chinese village thousands of years
ago that was ravaged by an evil spirit.
To protect themselves the following year,
the villagers hung red banners and used
firecrackers and drums to ward off the evil
force.
No doubt
this year’s “evil monster”
is the deep freeze that has assailed our
city and the entire country during the last
little while. I don’t know about you,
but I’m counting on the “year
of the sheep” to warm us all up a little.
Once again,
permit me to extend a thank-you to the organizers
and to all of you, for the opportunity to
be here. Please accept my very best wishes
for a healthy and prosperous year of the
sheep.
Gung Hey
Fat Choy (Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth)
Thank you.
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