February 16, 2001
Hong Kong, China

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the signing of four agreements and initiatives between Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in a number of important educational, cultural, environmental and legal areas. The Prime Minister was accompanied by provincial and territorial leaders.

"Canada has a unique and special relationship with Hong Kong, based on ties of history, family and values," said the Prime Minister. "The agreements and initiatives announced today expand our partnership in areas like film and television, Internet learning, the environment and legal assistance."

The Memorandum of Understanding on Film and Television Co-production fosters cultural and economic exchanges between Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by pooling resources to co-produce quality films and television programs. The 2001 MOU replaces the 1991 MOU to build in more flexibility. The Memorandum was signed by International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Carrie Yau, Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting of Hong Kong.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion and Development of Internet Learning Programs and Applications promotes mutual assistance and cooperation in the development of educational Internet programs in Canada and Hong Kong. The Memorandum was signed by International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Fanny Law, Secretary for Education and Manpower of Hong Kong.

The Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters provides for cooperation between police and prosecutors in Canada and in Hong Kong in criminal matters. The implementation of this Agreement is part of Canada’s program of expanding international legal cooperation in criminal matters to provide effective means of curtailing transnational crime. The Agreement was signed by Rey Pagtakhan, Secretary of State for Asia Pacific and Regina Ip, Secretary for Security of Hong Kong.

he Work Plan for 2001 under the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Collaboration sets out the specifics of cooperation between Canada and Hong Kong on regional and global environmental issues - such as clean air and clean water - to ensure the health of citizens and enhance the quality of life. The document was signed by International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Lily Yam, Secretary for Environment and Food of Hong Kong.

-30-

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Film and Television Co-production fosters cultural and economic exchanges between Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by pooling resources to co-produce quality films and television programs. An MOU was first signed in 1991 to help promote Canadian culture and support the expansion of the filmmaking industries of both parties. Since then, Canadian and Hong Kong producers have co-produced two films and three animation series totalling $18.7 million. The 2001 MOU replaces the 1991 MOU by building in more flexibility.

International co-production agreements signed between Canada and other countries enable Canadian and foreign producers to pool their creative, technical and budgetary resources to co-produce audiovisual works that enjoy national production status in Canada and similar status in the other co-producing economy. Canada has signed co-production agreements with 58 countries. In 2000, co-production generated economic activity in the order of $860 million.

The Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion and Development of Internet Learning Programs and Applications promotes mutual assistance and cooperation in the development of educational Internet programs in Canada and Hong Kong. This involves identifying company capabilities in this dynamic field, leading to possible co-development and joint venture opportunities in Canada and Hong Kong. The MOU is between Industry Canada (Information Highway Applications Branch) and the Education Department (Hong Kong Education City), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Industry Canada develops and implements programs which bring the information highway to all Canadians - in classrooms, libraries, businesses and communities in urban, rural and remote parts of the country - in an effort to encourage the use of information technology to build Canadian skills and knowledge. Canada’s SchoolNet is a set of educational resources for educators and students alike. Delivered by Industry Canada, the program provides online access to resources that help students acquire cutting-edge skills in Internet research and communications.

Hong Kong Education City is a large-scale project launched by the Education Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government to lead, to serve and to promote Quality Education and IT Culture for life-long and life-wide learning through a broadband network of schools, teachers, students, parents, and the public.

The Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides for cooperation between police and prosecutors in Canada and in Hong Kong in criminal matters. Such cooperation includes the gathering of evidence and assisting the police in one jurisdiction to carry out investigations in the other jurisdiction. The Agreement ensures that evidence gathered in Hong Kong can be used in a Canadian court. The implementation of this Agreement is part of a program of expanding international legal cooperation in criminal matters to provide effective means of curtailing transnational crime. Negotiations on this agreement began in 1994 and were finalized in 2000. Hong Kong's Basic Law (i.e. Hong Kong's Constitution) gives it authority to enter into Mutual Legal Assistance treaties following review and approval of the text by the Chinese Central Government. Hong Kong has Mutual Legal Assistance treaties with Australia, France, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

Environment Canada and the Hong Kong Planning, Environment and Lands Branch (HKPELB) signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on environmental cooperation in September 1992, which was renewed in January 1998 for a five year term. The MOU between Environment Canada and HKPELB’s successor, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, provides for a mechanism to address both domestic and global environmental issues and to promote Canadian expertise and technology. Emphasis is placed on the exchange of scientific information, management practices and lessons learned to improve capabilities to conserve and protect the environment.

The goals of the MOU are pursued by means of annual work plans setting out joint activities to be undertaken in the field of environmental conservation and protection. The 2001 Work Plan incorporates workshops, research activities and training exercises, including an Emergency Response Workshop to help train several hundred officers to deal with accidental spills of oil and hazardous materials.