'HONG KONG INC' HELPS WIN BID FOR MAJOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS IN 2008

15 May 2002

Between 7,000 and 10,000 international delegates are expected to attend the five-day ICO Congress in the summer of 2008. 

HKTB Executive Director Ms Clara Chong said that Hong Kong had a proven track record for conferences, meetings and exhibitions and receives strong support from the Hong Kong SAR Government at all levels. "In his maiden Budget speech, Financial Secretary Antony Leung said that Hong Kong must develop different types of tourism, such as business tourism linked with exhibitions and conferences, the family, and ecological and cultural tourism," she said. 

Ms Chong added that Hong Kong was fast developing its image as being Asia's world city because of its business community's united approach to selling the destination. "Hong Kong having a reputation for well-organised and well-attended high-profile international meetings certainly helps."

"For the ICO bid alone, there were support letters from the Chief Executive's Office, the Economic Services Bureau, Health and Welfare Bureau and the Commerce and Industry Bureau," Ms Chong explained. "It also had the full backing of the pharmaceutical industry in Hong Kong and in the region, as well as the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and The Hong Kong Medical Association. More than 20 support letters were submitted from pharmaceutical companies." 

When announcing Hong Kong's successful bid in Sydney last month, ICO President Prof Gottfried O H Naumann, sincerely congratulated Dr Patrick Tong, President of the College of Opthalmologists of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong delegation led by ICO Bid Committee Chairman, Prof Dennis Lam on their presentation, saying the ICO was looking forward to a successful Hong Kong Congress in 2008. 

"Because of the level of tourism industry support, when it comes to staging these types of gatherings, however large or small, Hong Kong has few equals anywhere in the world," Ms Chong said. "We not only have superb convention facilities but also excellent supporting infrastructure and many attractions for delegates to enjoy, all within such convenient reach. This makes the bidding process so much easier."

Prof Dennis Lam said that the 2008 event promises a strong global perspective in what will be Olympics year in China. In addition, he said, ongoing developments, with the focus being on eye doctors from China and the region, will ensure that the congress will be an outstanding one. "Beijing has yet to host the event and Mainland China has more than 20,000 opthalmologists. Strong ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland provide for the furtherance of the profession and will certainly aid in producing large delegate participation for Hong Kong," he said.

Dr Patrick Tong added that the meeting has previously been held in Canada in 1994, in The Netherlands in 1998 and will take place in Sydney this year. "Our successful bid is extremely timely," Prof Tong said. "Great advancements are being made in the field of ophthalmology. We see regional advancements reaching new heights by 2008."

Last week Hong Kong was also confirmed as the venue for the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Conference in 2004, where some 1,000 delegates are expected, as well as the International Federation of Surveyors "Working Week" in 2007, the winning bid for which was the direct result of the HKTB's "Hong Kong - Meeting Your Choice" programme held in March. 

"Hong Kong - Meeting Your Choice" in itself is an initiative demonstrating the joint efforts of government and the travel trade. Chief Secretary for Administration, The Hon Donald Tsang, JP, welcomed more than 30 delegates from international organisations with conferences, conventions and exhibitions on the drawing board over the next decade. The four-day visit allowed them to view facilities in Hong Kong and meet their local counterparts.