Chief Executive to attend Boao Forum in Hainan

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is to attend the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2007 in Hainan on Saturday. The theme of the three-day forum, which is to open in Qionghai city tomorrow, is 'Asia Winning in Today's Global Economy - Innovation and Sustainable Development'. Prominent government leaders, top corporate executives, scholars, experts and media representatives will attend a number of panel sessions to hold discussions on environmental protection, sustainable development, energy security, corporate social responsibility, innovation and development, and the rise of Asian enterprises. The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Mr Wu Bangguo, will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Three other keynote speakers are President of the Philippines, Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Shaukat Aziz; and, and Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Mr Bill Gates. Mr Ho will leave for Qionghai tomorrow. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Ho is away.