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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, will visit Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington between June 14 and 19 to strengthen Hong Kong's ties with Australia and New Zealand and to update political and business leaders in both countries on developments in Hong Kong.

As the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is due to celebrate its first anniversary in a few weeks, the Chief Executive will reassure overseas audiences of Hong Kong's continued role as a regional business and financial centre, and as the pre-eminent gateway to the Mainland of China and the East-Asian region.

Mr Tung will exchange views with Australian and New Zealand leaders on the need for further trade liberalisation through multilateral efforts before the turn of the century. He will also seek to promote travel convenience for HKSAR passport holders.

Mr Tung will discuss with political and business leaders the impact of the Asian financial crisis and will underline Hong Kong's sound economic fundamentals and the fact that our financial markets have remained stable.

He will use the opportunity to brief his interlocutors on the smooth implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle and latest developments in Hong Kong.

Mr Tung will also emphasise Hong Kong's advantages as a business and service centre, and the importance the SAR attaches to the development of information technology and high value-added industries. He will update his interlocutors on the major infrastructural projects in the pipeline, and the many business opportunities arising from these projects and other developments in Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive will leave Hong Kong on June 13. He will be in Sydney and Melbourne between June 14 and 17, and in Auckland and Wellington from June 17 to 19. Mr Tung will return to Hong Kong on the evening of June 19.

In Sydney, Mr Tung will call on the Premier of New South Wales, Mr Bob Carr, and meet the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Philip Ruddock, and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Laurie Brereton. He will attend a meeting with businessmen organised by the Business Council of Australia and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, give a lecture at an Asia Australia Institute forum and address a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Australia Business Association, Committee for Economic Development in Australia and New South Wales State Chamber of Commerce.

In Melbourne, the Chief Executive will call on the Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, and the Premier of Victoria, Mr Jeff Kennett. He will also meet the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mr Tim Fischer. He will deliver a keynote address at the Australia Summit organised by the International Herald Tribune. At a luncheon hosted by Mr Jeff Kennett, Mr Tung will be briefed on the development of information technology in Victoria by the Victorian Treasurer and Minister for Multimedia, Mr Alan Stockdale.

In Auckland, the Chief Executive will deliver a keynote address at the Asia 2000 forum. In Wellington, he will call on the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mrs Jenny Shipley, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Don McKinnon, and leader of the Opposition, Mrs Helen Clark. Mr Tung will also call on the Minister of Finance, Mr Bill Birch, and will meet top financiers and bankers at a luncheon hosted by the Minister.

End/Wednesday, May 27, 1998

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