Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang said
Thursday that Hong Kong will strive to host more large-scale
international exhibitions and conferences this year.
He
made the remarks after attending a meeting of the Legislative
Council Panel on Financial Affairs.
Hong Kong needs to go through a reassurance phase to convince
overseas people that Hong Kong have curbed severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) and they will not be infected when they come to
Hong Kong, Tang said.
He
said that after the reassurance phase is over, Hong Kong will go
into the recovery phase where the special administrative region
government will promote Hong Kong as a place to visit and a place
to do business.
Tang believed that business visitors will probably come before
leisure travelers and that is why Hong Kong is planning a series of
packages to promote the exhibitions and fairs.
He
said Hong Kong is to organize a book fair, a house ware fair as
well as a gifts and premium fair. They will all be held in
July.
Tang said the government will launch a whole series of activities
to showcase Hong Kong as a premier business center, tourist center
and a nice place to visit.
He
said the government is drafting plans for inviting a number of
well-known personages from all over the world.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)