Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office
Rings Closing Bell at NASDAQ

For more information, please contact:
Daniel McAtee at 202-238-6360
Melissa Ng /David Hsieh at 212-752-3320
Wing Yan Tong at 415-835-9315

August 3, 2009 - Miss Monica Chen, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, New York, rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ Stock Market today (August 3, New York time) as part of the festivities to celebrate the upcoming 19th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York.

Miss Chen noted that the Festival in New York, the largest and one of the oldest in the United States, was started by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York in 1991, the Festival has gone from strength to strength to become a fixture in today’s New York’s summer calendar.

Speaking on Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s financial center, Miss Chen said, “Our sound fundamentals and strong infrastructures, be in finance or other areas, have made us one of the most competitive players in the global arena.

Miss Chen said that Hong Kong’s development looks bright for the future. “Quite a few new initiatives have been put in place between the Mainland and us. We are the first place outside of the Mainland authorized to conduct business in Renminbi. Designated Hong Kong banks have started issuing Renminbi bonds since the beginning of this month, and there are more supplementary provisions under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), our own tariff-free pack with the Mainland.

“Hong Kong will continue to offer the best of ourselves to our partners around the world.” concludes Miss Chen.

The 19th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, to be held August 8 and 9 at Meadows Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York, will see more than 150 dragon boat racing teams from across North America taking part in the festival. More than 50,000 spectators are also expected at the two-day event. The HKETONY is the principal festival benefactor for the Festival.

More information on the NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony can be accessed by visiting: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/200908/market_close_080309.stm