Singapore Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, Raymond Lim, attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Chamber on August 23. Mr Lim briefed General Committee and Asia/Africa Committee members on the latest economic developments in Singapore and the government's role in directing the future growth of the city state.

P K Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and IT, from Government of Kerala State, India, led a delegation to the Chamber on September 9, where they were welcomed by Chairman of the Asia/Africa Committee Barrie Cook, and Angela Yeung, director, Business Development, HKGCC. Opportunities for economic cooperation between Hong Kong and Kerala, especially in the area of IT, were discussed during the meeting.

Thai Consul General in Hong Kong Sihasak Phuangketkeow spoke at an Asia/Africa Committee breakfast meeting on September 13. The consul general briefed guests on the latest economic developments and incentives offered to foreign investors and business opportunities in Thailand.

A delegation from the China Development Bank called on the Chamber on August 22 and was received by the Chamber Director Dr Eden Woon. Dr Woon told the delegation that around 70 per cent of HKGCC's members come from the service industry, and that the CDB can take advantage of the Chamber's services in the future to help it develop internationally.

Zhang Xiaoli (left), chief representative, and Xie Changqing (right), associate representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Hong Kong Representative Office, spoke at the Chamber's August 26 roundtable luncheon on "China Dispute Resolution -- Channels and Procedures." The speakers briefed members on the appropriate channels and procedures to resolve disputes on various issues which might arise in the Mainland.

Speech    Zhang Xiaoli text  

Yi Hui, deputy secretary-general of the State Economic and Trade Commission, met Dr Eden Woon, Chamber director, on August 28, and the two discussed the CEPA consultation and the opening of China's retail industry.

Chen Qiuyan, director, Guangdong WTO Affairs Consultation Service Center, called on the Chamber on September 10 and met with Eva Chow, director, International Business. Ms Chow discussed with the delegation cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong after China_s WTO entry and the impact of CEPA on both regions' economies. Both sides agreed that they would expand their future cooperate in information exchange and research.

Prof Gu Mingkang, from the City University of Hong Kong, was the lecturer at a WTO training course on "China's Foreign Investment Law and Trade Law after WTO Accession" held on August 26. Prof Gu spoke to participants on the latest developments of China's Foreign Investment Law and Trade Law after WTO accession.

The consultant for the Hong Kong Award for Services: Innovation, Ernst & Young, has completed the assessment for the 29 applications received by the Chamber. Eight companies have been short-listed and will proceed to the next stage of the assessment process, when they will be interviewed by a judging panel, chaired by Chamber Vice Chairman Dr Lily Chiang.

Vincent Wong, of the Commercial Crime Bureau, spoke to members about commercial crime at a lively roundtable discussion on September 4.