18-6-2018
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Hong Kong and Bordeaux have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Bordeaux to strengthen cooperation and exchanges on wine and food tourism, seeking to further enhance both cities’ appeal through joint promotions of their wine and gourmet food to visitors globally. Witnessed by Hong Kong Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam, who is visiting France, and Bordeaux’s Deputy Mayor Stephan Delaux, the MOU confirms that the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and its Bordeaux counterpart will continue their collaboration in staging the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival from 2018 to 2022. After the signing ceremony, the HKTB hosted a cocktail reception for the Bordeaux wine trade on a sail ship moored at Bordeaux river bank, at which highlights of the forthcoming 2018 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival were revealed, in an effort to attract the participation of the Bordeaux wine trade in the event. According to HKTB, the venue of this year’s event will the biggest ever. There will be plenty of new elements to create a lively and exciting atmosphere, including culinary masterclasses presented by celebrity chefs from various countries in the region. There will also be a collection of global street foods for visitors and locals to savour the most authentic tastes from different regions and countries. To showcase Hong Kong's culinary delights to the Bordeaux wine trade, three Hong Kong Michelin-starred chefs were invited by the HKTB to present their signature dishes at the cocktail reception. Mrs Lam has visitde the renowned 1st growth winery Chateau Latour in Pauillac and Chateau Montrose in Saint-Estephe. She also visited La Cité du Vin, a wine culture museum, to have a better understanding of wine regions in different parts of the world. Mrs Lam is currently touring Europe calling at Belgium, France and Germany primarily to promote the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area project and Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Her visit to Bordeaux shows that wine trade and wine tourism are high on Hong Kong government’s trade promotion agenda. Despite being just a city, Hong Kong is one of the top export markets for Bordeaux wines. Hong Kong’s love affair with Bordeaux has no sign of fading though the city is now Asia’s most important hub of international wine trade.
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