The first ever Hong Kong-Canada Trade Mission opened Friday, attracting 53 delegates from 40 Canadian companies and organizations to Hong Kong to explore business opportunities.

The trade mission includes briefings and workshops as well as networking opportunities with prospective business partners in Hong Kong and a side trip to southern China to see how Hong Kong-owned companies are run there.

Addressing the delegates at the opening of the one-day conference at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang said he was very much encouraged by the excellent turnout.

"Your presence tells me that you all recognize the business potential that Hong Kong possesses as a fast track to the Chinese mainland at a time when the economy of the latter is poised to grow even faster following China's accession to the World Trade Organization," he said.

Joining Tang at the conference were Canadian Secretary of State(Asia Pacific) David Kilgour and the Alberta Minister of Economic Development Mark Norris.

Secretary Kilgour echoed Tang's viewpoint by saying that "Hong Kong, the high-tech node for traders and bankers, is also the services center for Southern China and has been ranked by the Fraser Institute as the freest economy in the world.

"At the mouth of the Pearl River, its location makes it the entrepot of choice for businesses with their eyes on Southern China," according to Kilgour.

With an unrivaled location and a sophisticated business environment, Hong Kong is uniquely suited to put Canadian businesses on the fast track to China, he added.

Extending warm greeting on behalf of the Alberta provincial government of Canada, Minister Norris said Hong Kong and Alberta had strong ties and for more than 20 years, the Alberta office in Hong Kong had connected business people and investors from Hong Kong and Alberta. These helped contribute to the fact that Alberta businesses exported 100 million Canadian dollars worth of goods and services to Hong Kong last year.

Among the 40 participating companies, 16 come from British Columbia, 13 from Ontario, seven from Alberta, with the rest from other areas including three from Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2002)