A BRILLIANT COURSE OF A DECADE

 

   Registered in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA) was established on March 8th,1991 with the objective of promoting the economic and technological exchanges and co-operation between  Hong Kong and the Interior and building up a conduit for promoting the economic and technological exchanges between the Interior and the rest of the world  so as to expand trade. Its  objective also includes promoting the Interior's investment  in Hong Kong and other parts of the world or vise versa; the establishing and maintaining of a close relationship with the commercial organizations  of  Hong Kong and other countries or regions; promoting the co-operation and liaison among the members of this Association and providing diversified services to the members,  enhancing and preserving their interests. Over the past ten years, under the leadership of the Association Chairmen, with the forceful support of the members, the HKCEA has, in accordance with its objectives, carried out various kinds of activities. Starting from scratch, the HKCEA has grown into a chamber of commerce with a membership of 1000 companies and 16 Professional Committees. enjoying quite a fame and exercising an important influence in the industrial and commercial community of Hong Kong.

   

ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

 

    Business operations of Chinese Enterprises in Hong Kong is time-honored. As early as 1872, that is 120 years ago during the Reign of Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty, China Merchants ,now China Merchants Holdings Co., Ltd., was incorporated in Hong Kong . Later on, Bank of China, China Travel  Service and China Resources , came into the Hong Kong market one after another. Prior to our country's adoption of the Reform and Opening Policy, Chinese enterprises' business operations in Hong Kong, were mainly concentrated on supplying the Hong Kong residents with food, clothing and Chinese products for everyday use, and running financial, shipping business and travel service in conjunction with these business activities. The number of enterprises was rather small,  the business was not of a large scale ,and the speed of development was slow.  In 1979,our country began to adopt the  Policy of Reform and Opening and to encourage the active use of foreign investment by various localities, departments and state-owned enterprises ,to expand import and export trade and to make investments in foreign countries and regions not beyond its financial reach. As a free port, a world famous financial center, a trade center and a shipping center, Hong Kong naturally became the Interior's main window, channel and bridge  in its development of foreign economic and trade relations and to enter the world market. Therefore, the various provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the relevant departments began to establish their own " window companies" or trading concerns in Hong Kong. Trading companies were also opened by capable enterprises, cities or counties one after another, boosting the number of Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong. By the end of the year 2000,the total number  had come up to 2000, and their business operations diversified; many of them were managed by holding companies. As their business extended to various areas of Hong Kong economy and  exercised an important influence in the economic life of Hong Kong, the Chinese enterprises have become an important part of Hong Kong's economic activities

   

    Before 1991 when the HKCEA came into being, most of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong had joined different chambers of commerce or business councils according to their different lines of business, such as the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the  Chinese Manufacturers Association of Hong Kong, the  General Chamber of Commerce of Industries of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Tourism Association, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce of Importers and Exporters, etc.. While carrying on their business activities of various kinds and making achievements, they strongly felt the necessity of establishing a unified organization so as to  strengthen the ties and communications among the Chinese enterprises themselves and to promote exchanges and co-operation with the outside world. Therefore, the establishment of a chamber of commerce representing the interests of the whole of Chinese enterprises became the agenda of the day.

   

    In August 1990, the  leaders of  Hong Kong-Macao Regional Office of Bank of China, China Resources ( Holdings) Co., Ltd., China Merchants Holdings Co., Ltd., and China Travel Service (Holdings) HK, Ltd., jointly put forward a proposal that a business association be incorporated for the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong. This proposal was seconded by  Guangdong Enterprises Holdings Ltd., Fujian Enterprises ( Holdings) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Industrial Investment ( Holdings) Co., Ltd., China Overseas  Building and Engineering Co., Ltd., and  Beijing Holdings Ltd.. Later on, a preparatory group composed by the above-mentioned leaders  was formed for this particular purpose. At the end of more than six months' extensive work, on March 8th 1991, the Preparatory Group received from the Hong Kong Registrar Office an official certificate, approving the incorporation of a company limited by guarantee. The official name is Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association Limited by Guarantee, with the omission of " limited by guarantee". By then, all the necessary procedures for the formation of a Chinese business association had been completed.

 

   The last conference of the Preparatory Group was called on March 25,1991,at which the Office Bearers of the 1st Term were elected. At the first meeting of 15 office bearers, Mr. Huang Diyan, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong-Macao Office of Bank of China was elected Chairman of the Association for the First Term; Mr. Zhou Chuanru, Vice-president of China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd., the Executive Vice-chairman; Mr. Huang Zhensheng, President of China Travel Service (Holdings) Co., HK., Mr. Jiang Bo, Director and General Manager of China Merchants Holdings Co., Ltd., and Mr. He Keqin, Director and General Manager of Guangdong Enterprises (Holdings) Ltd., the Vice-chairmen. While Mr. Huang Chengxiang of Beijing Holdings Ltd., was elected the Secretary, Mr. Sun Wenjie of China Overseas Building and Engineering Co., Ltd. Was elected the Treasurer. The above-mentioned seven persons then formed the first Board of the Association for the first term. At the same time, the Meeting took the resolution that Mr. Yuan Geng, Executive  Vice-chairman of China Merchants Holdings Co., Ltd.  And Madam Qiu Qing, President and General Manager of China Everbright Holdings Co., Ltd. be invited to be the Advisors. 

  

     And so, on June 7th,1991,HKCEA celebrated its Incorporation Ceremony in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Present at the ceremony were well-known figures in Hong Kong's industrial and commercial community, officials from consulates of various  countries and leaders of the Chinese enterprises, totaling well over 1,600 people. At the ceremony, the inscriptions in honor of the HKCEA's establishment by President Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng and Mr. Ji Pengfei were announced. President Jiang Zemin's inscription reads " CARRY OUT THE PRINCIPLE OF ONE COUNTRY,TWO SYSTEMS, AND PROMOTE THE PROSPERITY AND STAB8ILITY OF HONG KONG", while that of Premier Li Peng  reads " BUILD UP HONG KONG AND FLOURISH  HONG KONG" and that of Mr. Ji Pengfei reads " MAKE FRIENDS ON AN EXTENSIVE SCALE, DEVELOP AND MAKE PROGRESS IN A DARING ADVANCE". Speaking in warm congratulation on the establishment of the Association at the ceremony were Huang Diyan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association; Zhou Nan, Director of New China News Agency Hong Kong Branch, and Henry Y.T. Fok, Chairman of Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. The atmosphere was warm and enthusiastic and most of the Hong Kong media carried the news.

   

    Establish and perfect the set-up of the Association. The first thing we did was the setting up of a working office in accordance with the decisions made on the 4th Session of the Office Bearers for the First Term. The working office was officially entitled the Chief Executive Office, which is responsible for the day-to-day work of the Association. This office was composed of one Chief Executive, who is held responsible for the work of the Office and for the Association's Office Bearers. Under the Chief Executive Office were such functional divisions as Administrative and Financial Department, Foreign Liaison Department, Co-ordination and Management Department,  Consultation and Service Department, and Research and Development Department. At present, the Executive Office has 11 staffers, including one  Chief Executive and three Deputies.

   

    Establish and Perfect the Professional Committees, which are the grass root organizations of the Association. The member companies formed their own professional committees according to the  professions they are engaged in. In 1992, the Committee on Transportation , the Committee on Building , the Committee on Tourism  , the Committee on Finance  and the Committee on Insurance  were formed. In the years that followed, some more such committees were organized. Now, there are 16 professional committees. They are  the Committee on Transportation , the Committee on Building , the Committee on Tourism , the Committee on Finance , the Committee on Insurance , the Committee on Machinery , the Committee on Petrochemicals , the Committee on Advertising,  Publishing and consultancy, the Committee on Textiles and Silks , the Committee on Electronics , the Committee on Pharmaceuticals , the Committee on Investment , the Committee on Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts, the Committee on Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs, the Committee on Minerals and Metals , and the  Committee on capital Market. The different professional committees carry out activities of their own and provide services to the member companies. To consolidate the professional committees, elections are regularly held for new leadership.

 

    Establish the  Recreation and Sports Committee and Youth  Committee.  In order to unfold the cultural and sports activities at spare-time among the working staffers in the Chinese enterprises in a planned way and on an extensive scale so as to enhance the friendship and unity among the member companies  and to enliven the cultural life of the employees at their spare-time, the Association formed its Cultural and Sports Committee in 1993, and in 1996 the establishment of the Youth Committee was announced, whose objective it is to unite the young employees and  to promote their social activities so as to make them contribute to the development of the Chinese enterprises on the one hand and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong on the other. Tens of thousands of young employees are now working for the Chinese enterprises Through various kinds of activities, the Youth Committee keeps close contacts    with them, unites with them ,nurtures their zest and enthusiasm of loving Hong Kong and the Country and of participating in  matters concerning Hong Kong,, encourages young employees to study hard and do their jobs to the best they can and positively promotes exchanges and co-operation with the young people from various walks of Hong Kong life.

 

    Anniversary Membership Assembly, Conference of Office Bearers and Meeting of Executive Directors. Every year, the HKCEA will hold an Anniversary Membership Assembly, with is attended by the Association Leaders, Leaders of the HK Liaison Office of the Central Government and representatives of the member companies. At the Anniversary Assembly, the Report on the Work of the Association, delivered by the Chairman, and the Financial Report, are  examined and approved. The Association elects its Office Bearers and Executive Directors, recruits Legal Advisors, Auditors and Financial Advisors every two years. As a rule, the Executive Directors are elected at the first meeting of the Association Board for the current term of office. And office bearers, including  the Chairman,, Vice-chairmen, Secretary and Treasurer, are elected at the first meeting of the elected Executive Directors.

 

 
TIES WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

 

     Immediately after the establishment, the HKCEA began to actively get in touch with the Central Government for the purpose of, while reporting to it the conditions of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong, trying to win support from the Central Government. In November 1991 and October 1994, the Association twice sent a delegation to visit Beijing. The two delegations were led by Chairman Huang Diyan, with Deputy Directors Wang Pinqing and Wulan Mulun of the New China News Agency Hong Kong Branch respectively as the Advisors. In Beijing, the Delegations reported to the Central Leaders the conditions of the HKCEA as well as the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong, listened to the directives from them, exchanged information for settlement of the existing problems with the related departments of the State Council and  heard their comments. The two Delegations were received by Premier Li Peng and Vice-premier Li Lanqing. They sufficiently affirmed the work of the Association and the achievements made by the Chinese enterprises in preserving the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and in promoting the economic construction in the Interior. They also issued important instructions regarding  the work of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong.

 

    In October 1997 and November 1999, taking the advantage of joining in the sponsorship of the Seminars On  Economic Co-operation Between Hong Kong and Beijing Towards the 21st Century, the HKCEA delegations visited Beijing. President Jiang Zemin received the participants representing Hong Kong. Among them were Association Chairman Gu Yongjiang and Vice-chairman An Jitao, who represented the HKCEA.

 

    During the four Beijing visits organized by the Association after its incorporation, the Association called on  the Central Organization Ministry, the State Council Office For Hong Kong-Macao Affairs, the State Council Office For Overseas Chinese Affairs, the State Council Office For Taiwan Affairs, the Securities and Futures Commission, the State Economic and Trade Commission, The Financial Commission of the Central Government, the State Personnel Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Ministry  of Communications, the People's  Bank of China, the Bank of China, the National Federation of  Industry and Commerce, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, etc. The HKCEA Delegations were warmly received. Through two Beijing visits and participation on two occasions in the Seminars on economic relations between Beijing and Hong Kong, the HKCEA was able, on the one hand, to strike a closer relationship with the various departments of the Central Government and expand the influence of both the HKCEA and the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong, and, on the other hand, reported to the Central Government the real situation of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong and win the support from the relevant departments of the Central Government. Excellent

Achievements, indeed, were made.

 

    Besides the activities listed above, the HKCEA also sponsored forums in Hong Kong, at which leaders of the relevant departments of the Central Government were invited to speak on the economic situation , the reform in the economic structure in the country and the new economic policies and laws adopted.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS WITH  THE SAR GOVERNMENT

 

    Since Hong Kong's return to the Motherland in 1997, the HKCEA has maintained an excellent relationship with the SAR Government headed by Mr. Tung Chee Hwa. The Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong resolutely stood for the SAR Government headed by  Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, and supported  the various policies of importance adopted during the Financial Crisis; they too voiced their opinions and requirements.  Mr Tung Chee Hwa came in person to several important functions held by the HKCEA, where he had cordial conversations with the leaders of the HKCEA in support of its activities.

 

   The HKCEA leaders paid several calls on Mr. Donald Tsang Director General of Financial  Department; on Mr. Yam Chee-kang, President of Hong Kong Monetary Authority; on Mr. Leung Ting-pong and Mr. Andrew LT Sheng, Chairman of  Securities and Futures Commission; Mr. Lee Hon Chiu，Chairman of Hong Kong United Stock Exchange; on Mr. Francis Ho.J.P , Head of Industrial Department;  and on the  Council for the Promotion of Productive Forces, Trade Development Council, etc. During these calls, exchanges were strengthened, communications carried out,  conditions and difficulties of the Chinese enterprises in their operations  explained and raised,  help sought from the related departments of the Government. For years, the HKCEA has maintained cooperative relations with  the ICAC . The ICAC officials, headed by the  ICAC three Commissioners Michael Leung Man-kin, Lily Yam,  Alan N Lai, paid visits to the HKCEA on different occasions . Activities co-sponsored by both parties were carried out, playing an important role in promoting business ethics, in preserving a cleaned business environment and in improving honest operations among the member companies.

 

 

PROMOTING  ECONOMIC, TRADE AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXCHANGES BY           STRENGTHENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

 

    In the ten years since its incorporation, the Association itself and the Professional Committees under its charge have energetically unfolded activities of various kinds, strengthened its internal and external relations and promoted the exchanges and cooperation in various economic areas.

 

MEMBERS WERE ORGANIZED TO STRENGTHEN  ECONOMIC EXCHANGES AND COOPERATION WITH THE INTERIOR. 

　

      In the past ten years, the Association has sponsored or co-sponsored Economic, Technical and Investment Talks, Fairs, etc. with Hong Kong for more than 20 provinces and  municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shandong, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, etc.;  received a number of Visiting Groups and Business Study Groups, sponsored Forums, Luncheons, etc. for the visiting guests and the Association Members.  Leaders of some provinces and municipalities  also called on the HKCEA. Member companies were formed into different delegations, which visited Beijing, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shanxi,etc. for business studies, investment investigations,  etc.,. These visits were highly successful. Besides, the Association also held  training courses for medium-leveled or senior economic administrators; contents of the courses involved governmental economy, market operation, enterprise management, legal enhancement, etc..      

 

 

TIES AND COOPERATION WITH HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

 

    The HKCEA has established relations with many industrial and commercial organization of Hong, with visits and calls exchanged between the leaders of these organizations and the HKCEA. In addition to discussions on cooperation,  they also co-sponsored more than 50 large-scaled international conferences, seminars and forums. With Hong Kong's well-known chambers of commerce or business councils, accounting firms, solicitor firms, surveyor firms, etc., the Association co-sponsored various kinds of seminars, luncheons, business talks, etc.. The HKCEA  directors or representatives of member companies held talks, luncheons, etc. with their counter-parts of Hong Kong, where they introduced each other's business and exchanged information and opinions, etc.. In the light of their own business lines,  Professional Committees, too, participated in business talks, fairs,  dinners, seminars, forums, get-togethers, etc. so as to strengthen their ties and friendship with the Hong Kong counter-parts.

 

 

ACTIVE EXCHANGES WITH FOREIGN ESTABLISHMENTS IN HONG KONG.
　

   After its establishment, the HKCEA actively built up ties and relations with a number of   foreign industrial and commercial organizations in Hong Kong. Leaders visited each other, aiming at strengthening cooperation. the HKCEA co-sponsored a number of luncheons, dinners, seminars, forums, get-togethers, etc. with Canadian Chamber of Commerce, French Business Council, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong,, Dutch Chamber of Commerce, etc.. The HKCEA received many a foreign delegation visiting Hong Kong. In July 1996, a delegation of more than 20 members, led by the prime minister of Cote D'ivoire Republic visited the HKCEA. This was the delegation of the highest ranking ever received by our Association.  Delegations of US Senators, Congressmen and Congress Staffers  visited the HKCEA on different occasions, each delegation being consisted of more than 40 members. Among the guests who visited the HKCEA ,such people as senior officials  of the International Monetary Fund Organization , the World Bank, diplomats in China, Consulate General in Hong Kong, etc.

 

    The HKCEA delegations visited South Africa, the United States, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, where the delegation communicated with the local industrial and commercial organizations, and held business talks. Through visits, Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong aimed at exploring the local markets so as to expand their export.

 

    The HKCEA sent delegations three times respectively in 1995,1997 and 1999 to the World Conference of Chinese Businesses respectively held in Thailand, Canada and Australia. At the conference, the HKCEA delegations gave publicity to the Association as well as the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong, got in touch with Chinese businessmen from all parts of the world, the local Chinese traders, etc. whereby establishing all directional and multi-tier relations with them.

 

EXCHANGES WITH TAIWAN AND MACAO 

　

    The Association has established with Taiwan Business Association (HK) Ltd. and leaders of the two associations held talks for the purpose of cooperation in promoting the economic cooperation between the Two Banks and Hong Kong. In 1996, Gu Yongjiang, Chairman of the HKCEA, Li Yinfei and An Jitao, both Vice-chairman of this Association went to Taibei at the invitation of Taiwan Business Association for Economic and Trade Seminar  For the Two Banks and Hong Kong Region held there. After the Seminar, the HKCEA Delegation visited Taiwan for seven days. This was the first visit ever paid to Taiwan by the leaders of the HKCEA. Which laid down a good foundation for developing the economic and trade relations between the Two Banks and between Taiwan and Hong Kong. In August 1997, the Delegation of the Insurance Committee, headed by Vice-chairman Wang Xianzhang visited Taiwan for studying what the Chinese insurance companies in Hong Kong can do in promoting the exchanges of this profession between the Two Banks, as well as for the way of cooperation of providing insurance service to Taiwan companies in Hong Kong and the Mainland. This visit enhanced the commercial ties between Chinese insurance companies in Hong Kong and their counter-parts of Taiwan.

 

    In March 2000, the Financial Delegation, with Vice-chairman An Jitao as the head, Liu Sanzhai, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government, and Hu Guocai, Director General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office,  as the Advisors,  visited Macao, where the Delegation had discussions with the Chairman of the Banking Association and the principal leaders of Chinese and foreign banks for the exchange of opinions about the economy and banking business after Macao had returned to the Motherland.  The Delegation also called on the Macao Chinese Enterprises Association.

 

ENERGETICALLY PROVIDING  SERVICE TO THE MEMBER COMPANIES

 

     Business speeches, forums, seminar and talks of various topics for the benefit of member companies were held. In order to raise the management level and enrich the managers  and staff  with business knowledge of different kinds, in the past ten years, the HKCEA has held more than a hundred Experience Swapping Conferences, Discussions, Seminars, Professional Skill Competitions, etc..  The Association has also organized nearly a hundred Speech Sessions at which experts and scholars were invited to speak on specialized subjects, including  the economic situation, market development and marketing, economic laws, analysis of Hong Kong's economic structure and stock market, financial management, etc.. Besides, the Ass9ociation organized more than ten Specialized Training Courses and over six hundred people were trained.

 

  
HELPING SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR MEMBERS THEY MIGHT FACE IN OPERATIONS 

　

     In the past ten years, the HKCEA has, taking whatever opportunity available, reported the situations of the operations of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong and in the Interior to the relevant departments in the Interior and the SAR Government. It helped solve its members' business problems arising from their operations through co-ordination and discussion.  The lawful interests of the members were preserved.  For example, in 1995, the Association reported to the relevant department in the Interior that the freighters of one of our member companies were without sound reason kept in custody This report aroused the serious attention of the Superior Organizations, which took effective measures and the freighters soon restored their normal sailing. On account of the Asian Financial Crisis and the affair of Guangdong Trust and Investment Co., Ltd., in the first half of 1999, the HK Chinese enterprises suffered from high market pressure. Their financing conditions somewhat deteriorated. To voice the opinions of the Chinese enterprises and to preserve the interests of the members, the Association wrote respectively to Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the SFC, United Stock Exchange, Banking Association and to the SAR Chief Executive, explaining to them the difficulties our members had encountered and asking for understanding and assistance from various sources.  The vice-president of the Monetary Authority and  chairman of the Banking Association appealed openly to the public that the Hong Kong society and banks should keep the whole interest of Hong Kong in mind and support the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong.

 

 

   Consultation service offered. In the past ten years, the Association has accepted several thousand consultation requests of various kinds from our member companies, from the Interior, from various circles of Hong Kong. The Association timely replied to their consultations.  At the same time, by publishing its own Bulletin and other reference materials, the Association provided its members with financial, industrial, commercial information of various kinds.

 

    Study specialized subjects. From 1992 onwards, it has been the practice of the Association to invite from the major Chinese enterprises researchers as Special Researchers of the Association. The Investigation and Study of the Association was formed. Seminars and discussions were held every year, at which the current year's economic situation was analyzed, future forecast, problems influential to the Chinese enterprises studied as special subjects, and very good suggestions put forward, some of which were submitted to the Leading Organs and member companies concerned and others were published in the press. Still others were reserved as the subject contents of the speeches delivered to the members who attended the sessions.

 

     In addition to the above-mentioned, the Association has since 1998, in cooperation with China Travel Service, organized  the relatives of the staffers or employees from the Interior to visit their dear ones during the summer and winter vacations. More than 3000 people have been benefited.

 

ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE MERGING INTO THE HONG KONG  SOCIETY

 

    In the past decade the Association has held Spring Receptions or Spring Banquets with Evening Performances, National Day Evening Performance, etc. every year. To which VIPs from relevant chambers of commerce and well-known figures from various walks of life of Hong Kong , persons in charge of member companies as well as the staffers and employees of the members, were invited. Leaders of the Liaison Office of the Central Government ( New China News Agency) and important officials from the SAR Government were also present on invitation. The Association Chairman would deliver a statement and the leader of the Liaison Office a speech at these functions. The Association would invite theatrical troupes to give performances in honor of the guests present.

 

PROPAGATING THE BASIC LAW, CELEBRATING THE RETURN OF HONG KONG
　

    The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association was established right at the time when Hong Kong entered the later-stage transitional period. The Basic Law had been published.  To propagate this law and to greet and celebrate the return of Hong Kong, the Association, alone or in cooperation with other chambers of commerce, organized activities of various kinds. In October 1996, the Committee of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association For the Celebrations in Honor of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland came into being, which was chaired by Gu Yongjiang, the then Association Chairman. In 1997,again, the Association cooperated with the six major chambers of commerce like the Hong Kong General Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, etc., formed the Activity Committee of Hong Kong's Industrial and Commercial Circles For the Celebrations in Hornor of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland. With Gu Yongjiang, our Association Chairman, as the Executive Chairman.  The activities organized by the Association, alone or jointly, include the One Thousand Days Count Down  Before Hong Kong's Return and Propagating  Of Hong Kong's Basic Law, How Much Do You Know About the Basic Law: Questions and Answers Competition, Decorated Vehicles Cruise

 

   In Celebration of the Return, Chorus Competition In Celebration of the Return and In Praise of the Motherland, Return Cup Hong Kong Basket Ball Match and Mini-size Foot Ball Match, Happy Get-together Day To Greet the Return of Hong Kong By the Chinese Enterprises, Artistic and Theatrical Performance  In Celebration of Hong Kong's Return, etc., etc. These activities were actively attended by people of all walks of life of Hong Kong, as well as the employees of the Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong.

 

COLORFUL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES

　

    Greatly supported by the member companies, the HKCEA energetically and meticulously organized cultural, artistic, sport, and recreational activities, achieving remarkable results. These activities included matches or competitions of basket ball, table tennis, track and field events, swimming, bridge; Karaoke Singing Matches, Photographic Matches, Artistic and Theatrical Performances, Gala Evening Parties, etc.. Particularly worth mentioning is the Happy Get-together Day of the Chinese Enterprises, which was held once a year from 1994 onwards.  This festive day usually could attract in their tens of thousands the employees of the Chinese enterprises with their families and relatives, people from the business community and ordinary Hong Kong citizens.  Rich in content, with attractive programs like Song and Dance Ensemble, Electronic Games Booths arranged by the member companies particularly for the day, Competition of Skills, Children's Happy Garden, Display of Photos etc. ,the Happy Get-together Day on the one hand reflected from one facade that the Chinese enterprises share weal and woe with the people and try to merge into the Hong Kong society. On the other hand, it propagated the achievements made by the Chinese enterprises and demonstrated how they contributed to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. After the return of Hong Kong, the Association frequently organized the employees of the member companies to visit the barracks of the PLA stationed in Hong Kong, where they had several get-togethers with the officers and men, in addition to sports matches. Through the activities mentioned above, the Association has built up friendly ties with the industrial and commercial circles and celebrities of Hong Kong, with the understanding enhanced, ties strengthened, unity promoted and great influence yielded. At the same time, they also enhanced the friendship and unity among the members of the Association.

 

   In addition to the above-mentioned, the Association did the agitated work among its members for making donations to the areas hit by natural disasters in the Interior. Out of all the donations, the 1991 donation to the Flooded Areas in East China accounted for HKD 94 million; the 1994 donation again to the Flooded Areas in East China, HKD 110 million; the donation to the China Association of the Disabled in 1994, HKD 5 million;  in 1996, the Cinese enterprises donated to the Hope Project in the earthquake area in Yunnan Province, in support of building a Chinese Enterprises' Hope Primary School and a School for Disabled Children; in 1998, they donated HKD 4 million to the earthquake area in Zhangjiakou of Hebei Province; in 1998, they donated  over HKD 34 million to the areas flooded by the Yangtze Rive and Nunjiang River, etc. In the past ten years, the Association with its members donated to the disaster areas and to the social welfare establishments to the total amount of HKD 250 million.

 

    How time flies! And in the twinkling of  the eye, full ten years have passed.  In the past decade, a huge amount of work has been done by the HKCEA in promoting economic exchanges and cooperation, internal and external, in enhancing the ties with various walks of life of Hong Kong, in providing services to the member companies and in preserving their rights and interests and achieved positive results. At the time when we are celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the establishment of the HKCEA, we coincide with the advent of the new century. In the new century, the progress of the economic globalization will be sped up and the science and technology will develop by leaps and bounds. China will join the WTO at the outset of the new century; this event will bring about unprecedented chances. Hong Kong too will also face huge chances and challenges. As one of the six large chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises will, together with its members, does its job even more energetically and effectively, especially in further enhancing the ties with the business world of Hong Kong for closer economic exchanges and cooperation. The HKCEA will spare no efforts in making greater contributions to the further development of the Chinese enterprises, to the preservation of the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong  and to the promotion of economic development in the Interior.