The Hong Kong government has been criticised for losing the world's second-largest third-generation (3G) mobile phone industry conference to Singapore, where 3G services are not scheduled to start until next year.
GSM Association chairman Craig Ehrlich on Thursday said the 3GSM World Congress 04 Asia, the group's first such conference in the region, would go to the Lion City, despite Hong Kong having been chosen as the preferred venue.
He said the Hong Kong government had offered hefty financial inducements to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is considering Hong Kong for its world trade show in 2006, but no similar incentives were given to the GSM Association.
'Singapore is rolling out the red carpet for us, but we have not yet convinced the Hong Kong government to do likewise,' Mr Ehrlich said.
'It is a shame that the government is spending money for the ITU, a conference in decline in terms of attendees while our conference is increasing in size.'
Body for body, the ITU show, held every four years, promises to be bigger. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang Chun-wah estimated the event would draw 100,000 overseas visitors, generating economic benefits of about $1.2 billion from exhibition space rentals and hospitality spending.
