Auckland Businesses Celebrates Hong Kong Festival

Over 200 from the Auckland business community celebrated the success of the second Hong Kong Festival 2010 over a banquet held at the Langham Hotel last Thursday, 19 August.

Deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Benjamin Chau believes New Zealand businesses have utilised opportunities given by the Festival to improve business relationship with Hong Kong businesses.

“Hong Kong is New Zealand’s ninth-largest export market. Total trade between us last year came in at close to US$840 million despite the global economic downturn.

“Clearly, Hong Kong and New Zealand are back to business. And trade should only grow in the coming years, thanks to the New Zealand-Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, signed just a few months ago.

“For Hong Kong, it marks our first free-trade agreement with a foreign economy; and for New Zealand, you are now the only country in the world to enjoy trade agreements with both mainland China and Hong Kong.”

The HKTDC holds various trade fairs have always attracted the attention of New Zealand buyers. Up to July this year New Zealand buyers in HK trade fairs are up 44 per cent.

“We put on 36 international trade shows a year and three are the world’s largest – the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair and the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition).

“The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement phases out product tariffs. It also provides our respective services sectors with greater access to each other’s markets – preferential opportunity all around.

“Investment and movement of business people between the two will be easier as well.”

Mr Felix Lee, President of the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association said he was grateful for the support and continuous support of HK Economic and Trade Office and HK Trade Development Council.

“Hong Kong Festival is an event showcasing Hong Kong from the art and cultural facet. Though the HKNZBA is a business association, we believe business dealings are very much intertwined with arts, culture, entertainment and food.

“This year’s Festival kicked off on 2 August at the Ground Floor of Rialto Shopping Centre in Newmarket, with Windows of Hong Kong photo exhibition, showcasing colours and vibrancy of daily HK lives.

“We proceeded on with a cocktail function and the premiere of the latest HK blockbuster ‘City Under Siege’ which was launch day-to-date with Hong Kong.

“It was exciting to feel Hong Kong in the air of Auckland for the three weeks up till the closing banquet. We value our relationships with our partners and the Festival will not take off without all the support and encouragements from various parties.”

The infamous Hong Kong Film Festival featured eight new movies from Hong Kong, including one that premiered in Auckland on the same day as in Hong Kong.

Festival Director Raymond Suen said distributors in Hong Kong are keen to be involved with the Festival in Auckland as they are aware of the recent interaction between Hong Kong and Oscar award winning creative director Richard Taylor of Weta Workshops through Hong Kong’s Cyberport.

“The eight titles included the award winning Echoes of the Rainbow which uses the sad but longing 1960s old Hong Kong as its backdrop, unfolding the travels of a small family as they face challenges, ups and downs, sharing laughter within tears.

“The movie was awarded the Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the 60th Berlinale 2010's Generation section – the first time a Hong Kong film has won the award – a great honour to the Hong Kong creative industry.

“This was also our first sold out film before the Festival opened officially. Due to popular demand we introduced three additional screenings, making us the only film festival outside Hong Kong to screen this more than once.”

Other notable guests on the night included Ms Bonnie Shek, Director of HKTDC Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Yong Chuan Li, Acting Consul General from The Consulate Office of the People’s Republic of China, Ms. Linda Law, Deputy Director of HK Economic & Trade Office, Mr Mike Lee, Chairman of Auckland Regional Council and heads and representatives from various organisations.

The festival is hosted by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association with sponsorship from the HK Trade Development Council, HK Economic and Trade Office, Auckland City Council, The Langham Auckland, Cathay Pacific, HSBC, Xia, Yealands Estate, D&H Trading and Victoria Park Flowers.

ENDS

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