Ambassador Simonić pays an inaugural visit to Hong Kong
Ambassador Ante Simonić paid an inaugural visit to Hong Kong from 23 to 25 March 2009. The program of visit was carried out successfully with full organizational support provided by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Hong Kong Sir Gordon Wu.
Ambassador Simonić pays an inaugural visit to Hong Kong
Ambassador Ante Simonić paid an inaugural visit to Hong Kong from 23 to 25 March 2009. The program of visit was carried out successfully with full organizational support provided by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Hong Kong Sir Gordon Wu. Besides the host and his family and associates, Professor Simonić met with representatives of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), leadership of the Hong Kong University, the Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong Red Cross, tourism officials and a few Croats who work in Hong Kong.
In the tourist agency "Jetour", Ambassador was informed about the problems that they encounter concerning their customized tours for Croatia, especially with respect to transportation links and hotel capacity. Their most attractive tour begins with a direct flight by the Cathay Pacific Airlines to Rome, continues by coach to Ancona, then by ferry across the Adriatic Sea to Split and Plitvice Lakes to Dubrovnik and back. Later on, during the meetings with the Director of the Government Protocol Mr. Tony Nguyen and Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourist Board Ms. Daisy Lam, Ambassador Simonić proposed that a trade mission from Hong Kong to Croatia be considered this or next year. The emphasis of such a trade mission would be on tourism exchange. Ms. Lam invited the Croatian Embassy in Beijing to contribute to promotion of Croatian culture and Tourism by participating in annual (Chinese) New Year's Parade.
During the visit to the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Croatian Ambassador was received by Professor Sum-Ping Lee, Dean and Chair Professor of Medicine, and Professor Paul M. Vanhoutte, Head of Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy and Director of Biopharmaceutical Development Center. Both hosts have pursued most distinguished academic career on several continents. Conversation about the cooperation between the University of Hong Kong and Croatian universities continued on over dinner at the residency of the Croatian Honorary Consul. Both, Dean Sum-ping Lee and former Dean, Professor S. P. Chow, currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of the University and Chair of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, enthusiastically offered to ensure six to eighteen month research grants for medical scientists from Croatia. Similarly, Assistant Professor Djurašić at Department of Physics expressed her willingness to assist in provision of similar scholarships or grants for the physicists.
Ambassador Simonić also met with and talked to a Croatian coach of the Hong Kong national soccer team Mr. Goran Paulić about the possibilities of further bilateral cooperation in the field of soccer and other sports.
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| At the Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters (HKRC), 24 March 2009. From right to left: Lady Ivy Wu, Executive Director of HKRC; Mrs. Patricia Ling, Deputy President of HKRC; Professor Ante Simonić, Ambassador of Croatia to China; Dr. Jelena Grčić Polić, Deputy Head of Mission. |
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| Ambassador Professor Ante Simonić and Professor Lee Sum-ping, Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the Hong Kong University, 24 March 2009 |
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| Laboratory of the Center for Development of Biopharmaceuticals: Professor Paul M. Vanhoutte, Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy and Director of the Center for Biopfarmaceuticals; Ambassador Professor Ante Simonić and Dr. Jelena Grčić Polić, Deputy Head of Mission. |
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| Residency of the Croatian Honorary Consul Sir Gordon Wu, 24 March 2009. Standing, from left to right: Mr. Alex Choi, Mr. Thomas Wu, Dean Sum-Ping Lee, Dr. Paul Wong, Pro Vice-Chancellor S.P. Chow. Seated, left to right: Dr. Jelena Grčić Polić, Mrs. Sum-Ping Lee, Ambassador Ante Simonić, Lady Ivy Wu. |
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| In front of the Hong Kong SAR Government Headquarters, 25 March 2009. From left to right: Mr. Alex Choi, Croatian Consulate; Mr. Tony Nguyen, Director of Protocol; Ambassador Ante Simonć and Deputy Jelena Grčić Polić. |
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| Ms. Daisy Lam, Deputy Executive Director, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Ambassador Ante Simonić, 25 March 2009. |
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| At the Headquarters of the Hopewell Holdings Limited, 25 March 2009: Sir Gordon explains to Ambassador Simonić and Dr. Polić the workings of his latest invention, up to 250 megawatt strong wind-turbine. |
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| Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Hong Kong Sir Gordon and Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to PR of China Professor Ante Simonić. |
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| Honorary Consul Sir Gordon Wu and Ambassador Simonić in the boardroom of the Hopewell Holdings Limited, 25 March 2009. |