Background

In August, 2000, ITAHK was invited by the Board Chairman, Mr. Xie Gaojue of the China Management Association of Post & Telecommunications Enterprises (中國郵電企業管理協會理事長謝高覺先生)  to form a delegation to place a visit to Beijing in order for our members to have an opportunity to exchange ideas and experience with our Chinese counterparts relating to the industry prospect that may arise after China's WTO accession.

With the utmost support from Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR their active coordination and with the endorsement of State Council of PRC, the delegation was finally held on November 27-29, 2000 covering a two-days schedule in Beijing and one day in Shanghai.  It is of its first kind since the establishment of association in 1983.  We were glad that 23 of our company members have been registered in the delegation.  It has its representativeness as the list of company covers all 4 fixed network operators and 5 mobile operators in Hong Kong as well as few global telecommunications players.

Trip Schedule

The trip was finally proofed to be very successful.  Since it was the first time to have such a big delegation from a group of telecommunications players in Hong Kong, the appointed parties treated highly of the delegation and all meetings were held in the conference room of their office.

Day One (November 27, 2000)

MII
The Delegation have met with the Ministry of Information Industry, PRC (MII).  Its Vice-Minister, Mr. Zhang Chunjiang (信息產業部副部長，張春江先生) and senior officials have attended.  The meeting was in the form of bilateral, members were freely to exchange their views towards the current telecommunications situation in China and future prospects when China enters into WTO.  Our visit was then reported in China Daily, CCTV Channel 4 (中央電視台新聞聯播) on the immediate day.
 

The Delegation meeting with Ministry of Information Industry (MII)	Mr. Zhang Chunjiang, Vice-Minister of MII actively responding to questions raised from members of delegation
Mr. Zhang receiving our small gift from ITAHK Chairman, Mr. Tony Hau	Group photo with Mr. Zhang and senior officials of MII

Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC
The delegation was then proceeded to visit Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC.  Without their coordination, the visit could not be as smooth as expected.  The delegation was met by Mr. Liu Mingqi, Deputy Director General of Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC (劉名啟先生，國務院港澳辦副主任) and senior officials.  Although HK & Macao Affairs Office is not actually involved in dealing with telecom affairs, but they stated clearly that they would give substantial assistance whenever there is requests from members of ITAHK needing support in China.
 

The delegation attending interview in the office of  HK & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC	Mr. Liu Ming Qi, Vice Director General of HK & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, PRC
Mr. Liu accepting our trophy with pleasure	Group Photo

E-Talking Forum
In the evening, the delegation was attended an e-Talking Forum which was produced by CCTV.  The program was recorded, edited and broadcasted as a documentary program in China Financial News (中國財經報導) & Commercial TV (商務電視) of CCTV 2 .  The program is titled as '開放前的握手-內地與香港互聯網及電訊業高層對話' which targeted on the inter-exchange amongst senior HK & China telecommunications players the current situation and future prospects when China enters into WTO.

Apart from our four EXCO members respectively Mr. Hubert Ng, ITAHK Advisor; Mr. Tony Hau, Chairman; Mr. Franky Lai, President of ISCP Group and Mr. Tony Cheung, President of FNVAS Group on the stage, representatives from three major telecom players in China respectively Mr. Zhang Yao of China Mobile, Mr. Fan Xingcha of China NetCom and Mr. Liu Junjie of China Unicom were attended as well.

Besides CCTV, the forum has attracted over 30 various media bodies and the show was then broadcasted simultaneously in 21CNN webstation and was trans-broadcasted by SINA website the other day.  Their presence has brought out the greatest media coverage in China.

The program was conducted as a talk show format.  People were freely to raise questions and express their views towards the current market situation on telecommunications in Hong Kong and China.  This forum was also reported in China Daily of CCTV Channel 4 & BJTV Channel 2 the other day.

The whole process of the Forum has been recorded in VCD.  Members of ITAHK are welcomed to order the VCD at costs.  Please contact Ms. Liza Chow at 2504-2732 for details.
 

Day 2 (November 28, 2000)

Day 2 program was targeted to visit the few main telecommunications players in China.  They are China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom and China NetCom.  The meetings were bilateral and members were freely to raise up questions and exchanged their opinions and views.

Our Chairman, apart from introducing our association, has extended our invitation to their counterparts in Hong Kong to join in the association.  They were quite positive about the proposal and would totally leave up to Hong Kong Office to decide.

At night, the delegation was invited by China Management Association of Post & Telecommunications Enterprises (香港郵電企業協會) who was the main initiator of this visit to attend the dinner banquet at the Great Hall of the People.
 
 

China Telecom met us in their conference room	Mr. Chang Xiaobing, Vice Managing Director (中國電信副 總經理常小兵先生) of China Telecom exchanged gift with our Chairman, Mr. Tony Hau
Group Photo
Mr. Zhuang Chen Shuang of China Mobile (中國移動 張晨霜) receiving our small gift	A group photo after the meeting
Mr. Wang Jian Zhou, Deputy Managing Director of China United Telecommunications Corporate (中國聯通常務副 總裁王建宙先生) and their seniors met with the delegation	A group photo
Mr. Fan Xingcha, Deputy Managing Director of China NetCom (中國網絡通信副總裁范星槎先生) presenting their small gift to our Chairman, Mr. Tony Hau	Group photo with China NetCom
China Management Association of Post & Telecommunications Enterprises (香港郵電企業管理協會) headed by Mr. Xie Gaojue, its Board Chairman (謝高覺，中國郵電企業管理協會理事長) has met the delegation in the Great Hall of People	Subsequent dinner banquet was held at Shanghai Hall of the Great Hall of People

Day 3 (November 29, 2000)

The third day program was shifted to Shanghai where we have met Shanghai Municipality (上海市政府) and Shanghai Communications Administration (上海通信管理局)
 

The delegation has met the Shanghai Communications Administration headed by Mr. Zhang Jian	Group photo

Conclusion

The success of this visit has brought out awareness in both the telecommunication industry of Hong Kong and China.  We are confident that more of the same type which is for the benefits of our members as well as the industry will be planned.  Currently, we strive to seek cooperation with government body, such as ITBB for keen support in order to promote our industry.