以色列駐香港總領事安邁凱獻辭

以色列駐香港總領事 安邁凱 獻辭
Message from Consul General of the State of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau
Ambassador Amikam Levy on the occasion of the 63rd Independence Day of the State of Israel on 10 May 2011

今天是以色列立國六十三周年。這麼多年來，我們把視野放於一個更加美好的以色列。通過我們的集體努力和貢獻、多元化的民主、革新的經濟和創新的文化，使我國得到持續的增長與繁榮。

以色列在世界高科技界扮演着一個主要角色，我們高科技業的啟動不單為我國作出貢獻，同時亦成為微軟、英特爾和摩托羅拉等公司的科學研究和試驗發展的中心。這些發展成就，顯示出我國人民的質素。正如沃倫‧巴菲特最近到訪以色列期間所言：「若你前往中東是為了石油的話，以色列則可省卻；若是尋訪腦袋，亦不用跟進。但以色列的腦袋和能源則有不成比例的數量。」

在納斯達克上市公司名單中，以色列是位列第三大的，僅次於美國和加拿大。在以色列的R&D當中，有百分之七十九是來自高科技領域；世界上的科學家和工程師，以色列佔最高百分比；若以人均在R&D投資計，以色列是位列世界第一，而創新能力則是世界第六位。

我們的所知及經驗在此地與香港分享，我們持續增長與繁榮的一致視野促使我們連繫在一起。我們的看法是：香港是一個優良的中心。因為香港是亞太地區的心臟並具策略性的位置，亦是進入中國內地的門檻；簡單及低的稅率制度；穩定和具效率的營商環境；世界上最自由的經濟地位以及國際先進的金融中心。

去年，有一些重要的雙邊交流，加強了以色列和香港之間的關係，令我們甚為興奮。包括有香港立法會主席曾鈺成訪問以色列，以及以色列國會議長Mr. Reuven Rivlin訪港等。

另有兩項重要的訪問是，以色列財政部長Dr. Yuval Steinitz連同一個新聞媒體及商界代表團訪港，以及前商務及經濟發展局局長劉吳惠蘭訪問以色列等，促進了以港兩地的商務及科技合作。

以色列公司在香港參與營商及商務活動同樣是著稱的，特別是高科技、首飾、酒類、化妝品和其他行業等。我們的使命是通過中國市場、能力和金融與以色列的創新和R&D的加強，為中國內地、香港和以色列帶來相關的利益，創造營商共贏之局。在不久之將來，我們仍會繼續誠邀經濟代表團訪問以色列。

隨着去年夏天簽訂了《文化合作諒解備忘錄》後，有為數甚多的以色列藝術家在香港多項活動中演出，而以色列的電影亦參與香港的一些電影節。

以色列、香港及中國內地的人民分享相同的視野和價值，因而共享長久的友誼和瞭解。我們對和平說「是」、對穩定說「是」、對合作的豐碩成果說「是」。我們合作的偉大願望是：為美好的將來跨前大步、為我們的孩子們 – 將來的領袖的利益！

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Today we mark 63 years of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Over these years, our vision for a better Israel, continued growth and prosperity, has made us become, through our collective efforts and dedication, a diverse democracy with an innovative economy and a creative culture.

Israel is a major player in the hi-tech world, which explains the considerable contribution of the country not only in the field of hi-tech startup, but also through R&D centres for companies like Microsoft, Intel and Motorola.

The quality of our people is key to such development, to quote Warren Buffet, as he has said recently during his visit to Israel, “If you are going to the Middle East to look for oil, you can skip Israel. If you are looking for brains, look no further. Israel has shown that it has an unproportional amount of brains and energy.”

Israel has the third largest number of listed companies in the NASDAQ, after the USA and Canada; 79% of the R&D in Israel is in the high-tech sector; Israel has the highest percentage of scientists and engineers in the world; Israel is ranked number 1 in the world in term of R&D investment per capita and ranked number 6 in the world in its ability for innovation.

These know-how and experience of ours we share here with Hong Kong. Our same vision for continued growth and prosperity bonds us together.

In our eyes, Hong Kong is a centre of excellence – with its strategic location at the heart of Asia Pacific and as a gateway to Mainland China; with its low and simple tax system, stable and efficient pro-business environment; and with its status as the world’s freest economy and a leading international financial centre.

In the past year, we were excited to see a number of important bilateral exchanges that strengthen the relationship between Israel and Hong Kong, particularly the visits of the President of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR Mr. Jasper Tsang to Israel and the Speaker and Head of the Knesset of the State of Israel Mr. Reuven Rivlin to Hong Kong.

The other two important visits were that of Israel’s Minister of Finance Dr. Yuval Steinitz with a media and business delegation to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong’s former Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mrs Rita Lau to Israel, promoting business and technology collaboration.

Israeli companies’ taking part in Hong Kong’s business and commercial activities was also notable, as in the hi-tech, jewellery, wine, cosmetics and other sectors. Our mission is to bring together the relative advantages of China, Hong Kong and Israel in order to create a common successful business by connecting the Chinese market, power and financial strength with Israeli innovation and R&D. We will continue sending economic delegations to Israel, sooner than the later.

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation last summer, we saw numerous Israeli artists performing at various events and Israeli films featured at many film festivals in Hong Kong.

The people of Israel, Hong Kong and China share the same visions and values, and have been enjoying a longtime friendship and understanding. We say yes to peace; we say yes to stability; and we say yes to fruitful co-operation. Our great desire to collaborate will take us steps further for a better future, for the benefit of our children – the leadership of tomorrow.