International business and trade activities are swarming Hong Kong. The AsiaWorld-Expo at Hong Kong International Airport alone has received advance bookings by 20-odd exhibition clients. Moreover, it will also hold the 6th WTO ministerial meeting at the end of this year and world telecommunication exhibition at the end of next year.

John Tsang Chun-wah, secretary of the HK Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, said during interview that he had been to places like Switzerland and Tokyo to attend unofficial ministerial meetings with officials from various countries and regions. The main purpose was to prepare for the WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Hong Kong at the yearend.

He said unprecedented number of people would attend the meeting. Known attendees from 148 countries and regions would exceed ten thousand. Besides some countries are signing up for it. Plus accompanying delegations from the media the total number was expected to reach 12,000. The HKSAR government had taken measures and was striving to make preparation in every aspect such as hotel accommodation, security and transportation etc.

Another international exhibition HK is to undertake is the World Telecommunication 2006 at the end of next year. The exhibition has never been held outside Switzerland before. "The fact that Hong Kong was able to apply successfully for hosting the exhibition was rather because of the all-out support of the motherland. It is also a sufficient testimony to the power of "China effect.", said Tsang Chun-wah.

According to Tsang Chun-wah mainland telecommunication market develops rapidly. Judging from the number of handset users the population has reached 300 million. Global telecom businesses are also eying the vast market with a 1-odd billion population. Hong Kong, as the mainland's window open to the outside world, is naturally the best route for foreign enterprises to step into the mainland. The mainland telecom circles can also use the occasion to explore international market.

By People's Daily Online