 Civil servants, business leaders,
academics, politicians and media corps brainstorm ideas to boost Hong Kong's service
industries
Leaders from the government, business and
universities, together with politicians and journalists in Hong Kong, got together for the
January 24 penta forum entitled, "The Servicing Economy," to brainstorm ideas on
improving Hong Kong's service industries. 
This year, to give the forum a
new dimension, media representatives -- people who have their finger on the pulse of
public opinion -- were invited to attend the event to add their views.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony, SAR Financial Secretary Antony Leung said that because Hong Kong is one of the
most
externally-oriented economies in the world, the territory must strive to upgrade the level
and value of its services.
"With the further opening
up of the Mainland market, how can we further develop ourselves into a financial,
logistics and trading hub of China and of the region? How can we further promote Hong
Kong's strengths, particularly in our services sector, in the Mainland now that China has
become a WTO member?" he asked.
 These were just some of the questions
participants were hoping to find answers to at four breakout sessions held throughout the
morning.
At each of the sessions panel
speakers outlined current challenges and threw up possible solutions for the participants
to run with.
The four sessions were:
"Hong Kong as a
Logistics Centre," with speaker Sir Gordon Wu, chairman and managing director of
Hopewell Holdings Ltd; "Social and Community Services," with speaker Christine
Loh, CEO, Civic Exchange; "Promoting Hong Kong's Services Sectors to the
Mainland," with speaker Anthony Wu, chairman (Far East) Ernst & Young; and
"Reform of Healthcare and Related Social Sectors," with speaker William Ho, CE,
Hospital Authority.
The Penta Forum 2002 was
jointly organised  by the Business and
Services Promotion Unit of the Commerce and Industry Bureau, Hong Kong Coalition of
Service Industries of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, and the School of
Business of the University of Hong Kong.
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