China's CKO

Acclaimed as the Events Capital of Asia, Hong Kong plays an active role in promoting international exchanges. Take healthcare as an example. Hong Kong is often chosen by international healthcare organisations as the host city for major conferences.

Last August, the FDI World Dental Federation held the 100th FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Hong Kong, attended by more than 10 000 specialists from around the world. In mid-May, the Hospital Authority Convention 2013 brought more than 4 000 international healthcare experts to share their experience and expertise, while today the ISN World Congress of Nephrology 2013 opened here. The fact that Hong Kong is chosen by international organisations to host these large and important events reflects our special status in facilitating the international exchange of knowledge and talent.

Many large enterprises have a Chief Knowledge Officer - a CKO. This is exactly the role that Hong Kong plays in the international arena. In many ways, Hong Kong acts as our country's CKO, helping the world get to know the Mainland of China while enabling the Mainland to keep abreast of the latest developments in the world. Hosting international conferences that attract experts from all over the world to Hong Kong is one of the ways in which we perform our function as a CKO.

For Hong Kong to give full play to its strengths as a CKO, the support of our country is essential. For instance, we would not have the precious opportunity of hosting the FDI Annual World Dental Congress without the strong support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With the support of our country, our knowledge of China and our service culture and infrastructure developed over the years, Hong Kong is an important connector between China and the international community.

We should continue to do our best in performing the role as CKO so as to provide a two-way superhighway for the flow of knowledge and information between our country and the rest of the world.

May 31, 2013