Some 300 leading executives from all over the world are expected to
converge on Hong Kong from September 24 to 26 for the second annual
Forbes Global CEO Conference.
Invest Hong Kong, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region government, is the host sponsor of this
highly prestigious international event, the department said in a
news release Sunday.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa will give an opening
keynote presentation, and participate in "A Meeting of Minds"
session together with the President, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of
Forbes Steve Forbes and the Chairman of Forbes Caspar
Weinberger.
Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang will host a
reception at Government House for Conference delegates and guests.
Financial Secretary Antony Leung will speak on "Reassessing the
global financial outlook."
Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong Mike
Rowse welcomed the Conference participants, saying that his
department is delighted to host such a prestigious event in Hong
Kong, bringing together so many experienced leaders, academics and
business executives.
"This confirms Hong Kong's place not only as a world-class business
hub but also as a center for creative discussion, where new ideas
are developed and economic issues crucial to our future are
analyzed," he added.
Rowse said from an investment promotion perspective, the Forbes
Conference helps to put Hong Kong in the international spotlight
and remind the participants that this is the place to be if they
consider establishing operations in Asia.
"It is a good opportunity to introduce Hong Kong's advantages as a
business location to some of the most important figures in the
international business world," Rowse said.
Top executives will discuss issues related to the theme
"Reassessing the business blueprint." They will reassess old ways
of thinking and chart innovative paths to success in this
challenging environment.
The conference will turn the spotlight on a range of crucial issues
such as "Global perspectives: A world united or a world divided?",
avoiding Asia's Enrons, the new China entrepreneur, the practical
impact of China's WTO accession, and challenges and opportunities
associated with new technology.
One of the world's leading authorities on threats to global
security and nuclear armament, Richard Butler, will deliver a
keynote speech. Butler is the former Executive Chairman of the
United Nations Special Commission to Disarm Iraq (UNSCOM), and
currently the Australian Ambassador to the UN and Chairman of the
50th Anniversary of the UN.
Other prominent speakers at the conference include Nobel Prize
Winner in Economics and former Chief Economist of the World Bank
Prof Joseph Stiglitz and the former Chairman of the US Securities
and Exchange Commission Arthur Levitt.
The conference will begin with the launch of the Forbes Global
balloon over Victoria Harbor.
(
September 22, 2002 )