Hong Kong plans to bid against five other cities for the chance to hold a prestigious telecommunications forum three years from now in an attempt to raise the city's profile as a regional business and conference centre.
Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang Chun-wah will make a pitch for ITU Telecom World 2006 at this year's event in Geneva on Monday. The event, organised by the International Telecommunications Union, is held every three to four years.
Singapore, Milan, Madrid and Istanbul also were competing for the event, as was Geneva, a spokesman for the bureau said.
The event has never been held outside Geneva, but this year the organisers decided to open the bidding for the 2006 forum to other cities.
'Hosting the next ITU Telecom World will significantly raise Hong Kong's image as both an international telecommunications and internet hub and an exhibition and conference centre,' the bureau said.
Hosting the event was expected to cost $70 million, including publicity and marketing expenses, guest receptions and setting up a secretariat office, the bureau said.
