Global Summit of Women 2001 held in Hong Kong

September 13, 2001

Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, welcomed around 400 delegates to Hong Kong - the City of Life - at the Opening Ceremony of the Global Summit of Women 2001 today (September 13).

Hong Kong has been chosen to host this year's Summit with delegates coming from all over the world including Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica West Indies, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. South Africa has the largest single delegation with over 40 Government officials and entrepreneurs.

The Global Summit of Women is an international conference for women business, professional and government leaders. It has provided a forum for women leaders to exchange strategies and solutions on issues of common concern since 1990. Summits had been held in Montreal, Dublin, Taipei, Miami, London, Buenos Aires and Johannesburg in the past.

One major theme of the Summit this year is the use of IT for women to transcend boundaries. The Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau will take this opportunity to introduce the revised Digital 21 Strategy entitled "Hong Kong: Connecting the World" to delegates attending the Summit. The publication published in May this year is also available at www.info.gov.hk/itbb.

Mrs Carrie Yau said, "Following the busting of the dot.com boom worldwide, the IT industry is now in a stage of consolidation. Growth has inevitably slowed down but there remain opportunities which we can explore. We in Hong Kong continue to see companies in the conventional sectors which have sound and robust foundation diversing into the IT field and developing e-business to broaden their portfolio in the digital economy. We, men and women alike, must equip ourselves and get ready for the next wave of e-development in the knowledge-based economy."

Mrs Yau emphasized that the Hong Kong Government was firmly committed to driving Hong Kong's growth as a leading digital city. It has taken the lead and would continue to invest in IT for building an efficient e-Government. This would set a good example for the private sector to follow and foster the growth of the local IT industry.

She continued, "Hong Kong is also a very good partner for IT development in the region, especially for those who plan to enter the market of the Mainland of China following its accession to the World Trade Organization.

"Indeed, Hong Kong remains the premier location for multinational corporations to establish their operation in Asia. About 1,000 new companies have chosen Hong Kong as the place for their regional offices since June last year, in addition to 3,000 other companies which had already established their regional offices here at that time," Mrs Yau added.

The Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau and the Equal Opportunities Commission have also co-organised a Welcoming Reception for the Summit delegates tonight at the Government House with the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, as the Guest of Honour. Other officiating guests included Ms Elsie Leung, Secretary for Justice; Ms Irene Natividad, Summit Director; Ms Anna Wu, EOC Chairperson; and Mrs Carrie Yau.

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