Yesterday was Canada D'eh - the biggest Canada Day celebration in Asia. Lan Kwai Fong was awash with cowboy hats and red and white costumes last night as Hong Kong's Canadians celebrated in style. More than 12,000 people showed their national colours last year and more were expected to attend this year's festivities. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce organised street entertainers, DJs blasting Canadian music, and bars and restaurants serving Canadian beer and snacks to keep the crowds entertained. 'Canada D'eh is a wonderful celebration for the people of Canada and Hong Kong, and it is a symbol of the links we share,' said Bernard Pouliot, CanCham's chairman of the board of governors for the past two years. 'Building on the success of the past four years, the chamber is committed to this annual event which promotes Canadian connections, businesses and products of one of the largest international communities in Hong Kong.' Chamber president Victor Apps said this year's event would be a milestone because it marked CanCham's 30th anniversary, the 5th Canada D'eh party, Canada's 140th birthday, and the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong since the handover. 'This occasion is an opportunity for us all to remember and celebrate the strong connections between Canada and Hong Kong,' Mr Apps said. The popular national day party is the highlight of the year and the most outward sign of CanCham's presence in Hong Kong but it is only a small part of the role played by the chamber. It originated as a small collection of businesspeople in 1977 and has since flourished, becoming one of the largest overseas Canadian business organisations. The pro-active, non-government body now represents more than 1,150 members with business interests in Greater China and Canada. These include managing directors of small to medium-sized companies and multinationals, and government officials, business professionals and hi-tech entrepreneurs. CanCham communications manager Jennifer Chan said the chamber's main role was to hold business, financial, environmental and social events. 'The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is a business networking organisation, and the largest Canadian association outside of the country,' Ms Chan said. The chamber also offers its members value-added services ranging from trade missions and topical seminars to publications, business referrals and preferential purchasing agreements. Its various committees, which focus on areas such as sustainable development, business in China and young professionals, ensure that its members' needs are voiced and met. '[CanCham] also prepares position papers about education, finance and the environment which are presented to the Hong Kong and Canadian governments,' Ms Chan said. 'Events in the past few months included a visit from the international trade minister, our 4th annual Sustainable Development Index, the Climate Change series, and the working group we took to Beijing in May.' One of the highlights of the year so far was a visit in January by Canadian Industry Minister David Emerson, who cut the ribbon to open the chamber's newly renovated office at the Kinwick Centre on Hollywood Road in Central.