Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang said Thursday that Hong Kong will strive to host more large-scale international exhibitions and conferences this year.

He made the remarks after attending a meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Financial Affairs.

Hong Kong needs to go through a reassurance phase to convince overseas people that Hong Kong have curbed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and they will not be infected when they come to Hong Kong, Tang said.

He said that after the reassurance phase is over, Hong Kong will go into the recovery phase where the special administrative region government will promote Hong Kong as a place to visit and a place to do business.

Tang believed that business visitors will probably come before leisure travelers and that is why Hong Kong is planning a series of packages to promote the exhibitions and fairs.

He said Hong Kong is to organize a book fair, a house ware fair as well as a gifts and premium fair. They will all be held in July.

Tang said the government will launch a whole series of activities to showcase Hong Kong as a premier business center, tourist center and a nice place to visit.

He said the government is drafting plans for inviting a number of well-known personages from all over the world.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)