PR Professionals from Different Sectors Exchange Views on the Development of the PR Industry

Celebrities from the Government, Academic and Business Sectors Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of PRPA

Hong Kong, Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association Limited ("PRPA") held the Regional Conference: The Edge of Public Relations in The Next Decade in celebration of its 20^th anniversary at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel on 23 October, where PR professionals from different sectors gathered to exchange views on the development of and challenges to the PR industry. Mrs Carries Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration, officiated at the cocktail reception that followed.

Mrs Carrie Lam joined other guests in the toasting ceremony to mark a milestone in the development of PRPA

PR Gurus Explore the Development of PR Industry

The Regional Conference: The Edge of Public Relations in The Next Decade was held in celebration of the 20^th anniversary of PRPA. Mr YK Pang, Chairman of General Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive of Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd., was invited as the Keynote Speaker; while PR gurus from different sectors (Please refer to the appendix) were invited to share their insights on the Role of PR in the Boardroom, PR Scene in Mainland China and PR in the Digital Age, and explored the directions of development of the PR industries in Hong Kong and the Greater China area from different perspectives.

"PR has always played a significant and vital role in our community. It is the proverbial bridge that links organizations both in the public and private sectors, and everything else in between, with the general public," Mr YK Pang said. "Along with the rapidly changing world that we live in today, so have challenges to, and demands on PR professionals grown as the communities we live in become increasingly connected and complex in a digitized network."

Chief Secretary for Administration Officiates at the Cocktail Reception

A cocktail reception was held after the Regional Conference. Mrs Carries Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration, was invited as the officiating guest. Celebrities from the government, academic and business sectors, including Patrick Nip, Director of Information Services, Steve Hui, Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Branch, Leung Ka-wing, Director of Broadcasting, John CC Chan, Advisor of PRPA, YK Pang, Chairman of General Chamber of Commerce, Mr Philip Chen, Managing Director of Hang Lung Group and Hang Lung Properties Limited, Ms Winnie Ng, Non-executive Director of The Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933) Ltd., Tsang Sing Ming, Deputy Controller (Publicity) of Corporate Communication Division of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), management from media organizations and representatives from the academia also attended the cocktail reception.

In his welcoming speech, Mr CF Kwan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of PRPA 20th Anniversary Program, said, "Over the past 20 years, PRPA has been extending its scope of work to enhance the professional status of PR practitioners, as well as advocate a Code of Professional Standards for all PR practitioners to observe. The Hong Kong Public Relations Awards held in 2011 and 2014 consolidated PRPA's position in the PR industry."

Speaking at the cocktail reception, Mrs Carries Lam said, "In this new era where everything is connected by networks, public relations practitioners must be versatile. They should make full use of information technology to maintain close contact with stakeholders and give prompt response, seeking the greatest recognition and support." Mrs Carries Lam also joined other guests in the toasting ceremony to mark the milestone in the development of PRPA, wishing PRPA to guide the industry towards greater achievements.

PRPA Promotes Professional Exchanges and Enhance Professional Status of PR practitioners

Dr John CC Chan, advisor of PRPA said, "Phenomenal advancements in communications technology have enabled vast amounts of information and data to be transmitted instantaneously to millions of recipients across national boundaries. This has greatly strengthened the armoury of public relations professionals but also posed huge challenges to their ability to respond to evolving situations and to turn risks into opportunities. By actively promoting public relations as a profession and providing regular meetings and forums to exchange views and share experience, the PRPA has done much to enhance the role that public relations play in organizations as well as in the development of Hong Kong's economy."

In its congratulatory message to PRPA, the China International Public Relations Association (CIPRA) pointed out that the international perspectives and standardized operation of the Hong Kong PR industries have provided a solid foundation and important references for the development of the PR industry in China. CIPRA also praised PRPA for its active role in promoting exchanges among the PR professionals of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China.

Ms Pamela Leung, President of PRPA, thanked everyone for the support and congratulatory messages, "Building on the experience and network developed in the past 20 years, PRPA will continue to work towards the goal of 'pooling efforts and enhancing the professional status of PR practitioners'. To promote the development of the industry and nurture young PR calibers, PRPA will continue to provide platforms for professional exchanges between PR practitioners through seminars, delegations and newsletter, collaborate with tertiary institutions in organizing PR programs and certificate courses and a student attachment program, as well as give guest lectures at universities. Moreover, to gain recognition for the PR profession, PRPA will start to work on the 3^rd Hong Kong Public Relations Awards next year, and represent CIPRA to recruit Hong Kong and Macau entries to the China Golden Awards for Excellence in Public."

About PRPA

Established on May 1, 1995, the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association Limited ("PRPA") is an independent body comprising public relations practitioners in Hong Kong. Its founding members include public relations professionals from the commercial and public sectors in Hong Kong, either working in-house or in consultancies. Since its inception, the Association has been actively promoting public relations as a profession and providing regular meetings and forums to exchange views and share experience. It is the belief of PRPA that public relations will play an increasingly significant role in an organization as well as the development of Hong Kong's economy.

Website: http://prpa.com.hk/

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