The Fortune Global Forum takes place in Hong Kong next week, and the seven hundred invited delegates from the Fortune 500 top global corporations will be relieved to learn that anti-globalisation protesters are saying they will stay away from because there aren't enough fellow activists in the SAR - which is after all a shrine to free enterprise - to feed them and pay their expenses. Nonetheless the Hong Kong police will set up a wide security zone for the forum, which runs from May 8th to 10th.
The Fortune Global Forum is described by its organisers, consulting firm Carnegie Hill Partners, as: 'an annual conference that brings together the leaders of large multi-national corporations to build and to explore the key issues facing the global business community.'
The Forum was launched in 1995, and each year convenes in a location that is a focal point of international economic interest. Previous sites have included Singapore, Barcelona, Bangkok, Budapest, Shanghai and most recently, Paris. This year's Forum will focus on "Next Generation Asia", encompassing emerging technologies, new-style companies, Asian conglomerates in transition, the new consumer, youth culture, and post-WTO China.
The South China Morning Post spoke to an activists' group in the United States, which said the territory lacked a strong and non-politically affiliated local group that could support their protest action. It was for the same reason they did not come to Hong Kong for the World Bank conference in 1997, they said.
Lee Siu-hin, organiser of Border Action, one of the anti-globalisation groups, said: "We can go to Washington, we can go to Prague. We can also go to Hong Kong, but we won't as it lacks the necessary conditions."
Mr Lee told the Post from Los Angeles that the support needed by his Border Action group ranged from the sponsoring of all travel, accommodation, meals and other expenses during their stay in Hong Kong. He said it was practice to have local groups in the host city of a conference raise money to support the expenses of overseas protesters.
Protesters or not (and a global meeting these days without them can hardly hold up its head in decent company) the Forum will be a bonanza for Hong Kong. The average overseas visitor to a three-day conference in the SAR spends about $11,300; but the 700 delegates to the Forum, many accompanied by their wives or 'assistants' are each expected to spend more than $56,000.
Between the Forum and food and drink exhibition Hofex, Hong Kong is fully booked next week - except that there are some vacant student bed-sits and gaol cells for protesters.
.
Network Tweets
Network BlogsContent
provided by
|
Archive | Resources | Partners | Site Map | Links | Newsletter Archive | Contact | RSS Feeds | About | Syndication | Advertising & Marketing | Recruitment | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Cookies
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Tax-News.com
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Tax-News.com has taken reasonable care in sourcing and presenting the information contained on this site, but accepts no responsibility for any financial or other loss or damage that may result from its use. In particular, users of the site are advised to take appropriate professional advice before committing themselves to involvement in offshore jurisdictions, offshore trusts or offshore investments.
Write a comment