意大利駐港澳總領事格施嘉鳳獻辭

意大利駐港澳總領事 格施嘉鳳 獻辭
Message to the “International Link Magazine” of the Consul General of Italy, Mrs Alessandra Schiavo

意大利和香港的的關係持續良好。香港繼續是一個服務業心臟、亦是其他國家進入中國內地和其他東南亞國家的門檻。根據預測，中國於二零一五年將會成為第一大奢侈品市場。意大利的高速汽車、無可模仿的時裝、首飾和設計都是極為誘人的，意大利在世界市場在這方面有大量的供應和進行投資。

去年意大利的出口來港增長率逾百分之三十，達五十四億五千萬美元。我國亦被確定是香港的第三大歐洲供應商，去年意港的貿易總額達九十一億三千萬美元，比二零零九年的七十七億美元為高。意大利出口至香港的商品當中，單是時裝已佔百分之七十三，而紅葡酒出口來港增加了近百分之五十一、白葡酒則近百分之二十。這顯示出先進且國際化的香港，其消費者在眾多的選擇中，增加挑選了意大利酒類和欣賞其豐富性和品種多樣。

本人對這些成果甚為鼓舞，但相信仍有進一步提升的空間，因為香港及中國內地市場的潛力是巨大的，而意大利在設計、優質生活品味甚具傳統性和才能，而所有與藝術和美相關的事物更是無限的。

而且，意大利不只是一個藝術與文化之國，同時亦是世界上第六大最具工業化力量之國，在基礎建設、服務業、資訊科技業等行業均擁有眾多傑出的公司。我們肯定會在這些領域增加投資及與香港雙邊合作，因為香港在這些方面，現今的成績及為其將來的謀策等早顯示出其遠見。

去年，感謝總領事館的不懈努力，訪港的官方代表團在數量及質量兩方面都有提升。共和國總統喬治‧納波利塔諾、外交部副外長Stefania Craxi於二零一零年十月訪港；同月，文化部長的特別代表Mr. Resca亦訪港；前總理及前歐洲委員會主席羅馬諾‧普羅迪於二零一零年九月及二零一一年一月先後訪港兩次。多位國會議員以及成千上萬的商人和企業家以他們為榜樣，逾二千名人士參與了由駐港總領事館和商務專員公署所舉辦的活動，亦有逾萬人與香港的夥伴有長期關係。因受這蓬勃市場的吸引，去年香港的意大利社群的人數增加了百分之九。

以上這些例子，顯示香港市民與意大利人民之間已存在深厚和相互欣賞的情誼，並在未來的歲月繼續增厚！

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Relations between Italy and Hong Kong continue to be excellent: Hong Kong keeps its key role as a service hub and gateway for other countries to Mainland China and to other States of South East Asia; according to the forecasts, China will become the first luxury goods market by 2015, and with its seducing and fast cars, inimitable fashion, jewels and design, Italy has a lot to offer and many reasons to invest in this part of the world.

Italian exports grew last year by over 30%, reaching 5,45 billions USD and confirming us as the third European supplier of Hong Kong. In total, the volume of the total trade was 9,13 billions USD, considerably higher than the 7,7 billions USD recorded in 2009.

Fashion alone covered 73% of the Italian exports to Hong Kong, while the exports of our excellent red wines grew by almost 51%, and the whites by almost 20%. This shows that the sophisticated and cosmopolitan Hong Kong consumers are becoming increasingly more capable of finding their bearings in the complex but extremely fascinating and rewarding universe of Italian wines and appreciate their richness and variety.

Although these results are very encouraging, I believe that there is still room for further improvements: the potential of Hong Kong and Chinese markets is huge, and the Italian talent and tradition in design, quality of lifestyle, and everything which is related to arts and beauty is virtually unlimited.

Moreover: Italy is not only a country of arts and culture, but also the sixth most industrialized power in the world, with outstanding companies in the fields of infrastructure, services, information and telecommunications technologies.

We definitely should have more investments and more bilateral cooperation in these sectors, since these are also the areas upon which Hong Kong – which has always shown a remarkable farsightedness – has built its present wealth and envisages its future!

Last year, thanks also to the strenuous efforts of the Consulate General, both the number and the quality of official Italian delegations to Hong Kong remarkably raised: the President of the Republic, H.E. Giorgio Napolitano, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Stefania Craxi, arrived here in October 2010; in the same month the Special Representative of the Minister of Culture, Mr Resca, visited Hong Kong; former Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission, Hon. Romano Prodi came twice, in September 2010 and in January 2011.

Various members of Parliament followed their example, while businessmen and entrepreneurs came in thousands: more than 2.000 have participated in the events organized by the Italian Trade Commission and the Consulate General; more than 10.000 have long-term relations with Hong Kong counterparts. Attracted by this flourishing market, also the Italian community in Hong Kong increased by 9% last year.

These are all unmistakable signs that the already deep and mutual appreciation between Hong Kong and Italian people is destined to grow also in the years to come!