events

Hong Kong Commissioner visits Kentucky

Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Margaret Fong (third from left) called on Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (second from right) during a visit to Frankfort. Also at the meeting were (from left): Secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development John Hindman, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Monica Chen and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Edward Mak.

Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Margaret Fong was in Kentucky in late April to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events as well as Hong Kong’s business advantages to senior state officials and the U.S. equestrian community.

Miss Fong called on Gov. Steve Beshear in Frankfort, Ky., and updated him on the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle in Hong Kong, the territory’s economic performance and the advantages for Kentucky businesses to tap mainland Chinese markets via Hong Kong. She also spoke about the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events being held in Hong Kong. Gov. Beshear expressed keen interest in exploring mutual business opportunities and in possibly collaborating with Hong Kong on the equine industry. Miss Fong invited Gov. Beshear to visit Hong Kong.

While in Frankfort, Miss Fong also met with John Hindman, secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development, and George R. Burgess, commissioner of the Department for Existing Business Development, Cabinet for Economic Development.

In Lexington, Ky., Miss Fong visited Georgetown College where she met with Dr. William H. Crouch Jr., president of Georgetown College, and Martha Layne Collins, former governor of Kentucky and current chair and CEO of Kentucky World Trade Center and Executive Scholar in Residence of Georgetown College.

During the meeting, Ms. Collins and Dr. Crouch highlighted the connections of Georgetown College with Hong Kong and said they hope to collaborate with Hong Kong on new exchange initiatives.

Miss Fong spoke at a reception of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, highlighting that Hong Kong, with its long history of equine excellence, is ready to host the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events this summer.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, held April 24-27 in Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, is the only four-star three-day event in the Americas. It was also a selection competition of the United States Equestrian Federation for the 2008 Olympic Eventing Team.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York was a corporate sponsor at the prestigious equestrian event in Kentucky and promoted Hong Kong as a co-host city of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.