Japanese businessmen urged to take greater part in Hong Kong's high-tech development

2000 July, 12

Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo, Miss Cheung man-yee, called on an even greater presence from Japan in Hong Kong's high-tech development. Addressing a group of Japanese businessmen and company executives at a seminar in Kyoto, Miss Cheung said she was pleased to see that several Japanese firms such as Softbank and Trans Cosmos were among the 120 companies already expressing interest in becoming tenants of the Cyberport. "With your expertise and strong influence on IT and telecommunications, we would like to see an even greater presence from Japan in our high-tech development," she said. Miss Cheung added that as part of Hong Kong's determination to build a stronger economic base, Hong Kong's first Science Park was also taking shape. "More than 20 companies have so far applied to become tenants. Of these, six have signed contracts to establish regional headquarters for research and development," she said. Updating the Japanese audience on the latest economic performance of Hong Kong, Miss Cheung said Hong Kong's economy grew by over 14 per cent in the first quarter of this year, which was the fastest growth recorded since late 1987. "And the medium term prospects - the four-year period from 2000 to 2003" are looking good with a trend GDP growth rate of four per cent annually," she said. Miss Cheung attributed the turnaround in Hong Kong's economic performance to the remarkable flexibility and adaptability of its workforce and its entrepreneurs. She said the Hong Kong Government and the entire community fully recognised that innovation and technology were the major driving force of the economic growth in the future. Professor Charles Kao, Chairman of Transtech Services Ltd, Hong Kong, in his keynote address at the seminar, outlined the IT development and IT driven opportunities in Hong Kong for overseas investors. He said Hong Kong had the potential of establishing itself as a world city with unique characteristics. "In this context, information technology will have a strong impact to the territory's development," he said. Professor Kao said the service industry contributed significantly to the competitive strengths of Hong Kong and such a service infrastructure attracted international investment and added per capita GDP. He said the major impact of IT in Hong Kong was in the improvement in the delivery of all services. "This can be witnessed in the rapid and successful growth of the IT industry, which will enable Hong Kong to become an effective and broad ranging integrated service provider. " Entitled "Hong Kong - Asia's Premier International City", the seminar was the first of its kind to be organised in Kyoto by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo. About 400 businessmen and company executives from the region attended the seminar. Wednesday, July 12, 2000

From left: Mr Kunio Kano, Regional Director, Hong Kong Tourist Association; Miss Cheung Man-yee, Principal Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo; Mr. Hisakazu Takagi, Deputy Mayor, Kyoto City; Professor Charles Kao, and Mr Louis Ho, Director, Japan, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, at the "Hong Kong - Asia's Premier International City" Seminar Reception in Kyoto today (July 12).

From left: Miss Cheung Man-yee, Principal Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo; Mr. Hisakazu Takagi, Deputy Mayor, Kyoto City, and Professor Charles Kao, at the "Hong Kong - Asia's Premier International City" Seminar in Kyoto today (July 12).

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