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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, has touched down today (Sunday) in Sydney to start his first official visit to Australia and New Zealand.

During the six-day visit, Mr Tung will meet political and business leaders in both countries, including the Australian Prime Minister John Howard and the New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.

Mr Tung will promote stronger business links between Hong Kong and both countries, as well as seek more travel convenience for HKSAR passport holders.

The Chief Executive will also discuss continued co-operation in trade liberalisation and the use and development of information technology.

Mr Tung will deliver three keynote speeches at which he is expected to touch on the East Asian financial crisis, Hong Kong's first year as a Special Administrative Region and the successful implementation of the 'One Country, Two Systems' concept.

Today, Mr Tung will meet Hong Kong community representatives in Sydney and address the influential Asia Australia Institute.

Tomorrow (Monday), the Chief Executive will call on the New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, visit Hong Kong House and speak at a lunch jointly hosted by the NSW State Chamber of Commerce, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, the Hong Kong Australia Business Association and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

He will fly to Melbourne tomorrow afternoon and will be a guest of honour at the Australia Summit Welcoming Reception at the Victorian Government House.

On Tuesday (June 16), Mr Tung will deliver the keynote address at the high-powered Australia Summit, which focuses on the future of region and will be attended by a "who's who" of Australian politics and business.

Following the Summit speech, Mr Tung will meet with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Tim Fischer, Federal Minister for Finance John Fahey and Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett.

On Wednesday (June 17), Mr Tung flies from Melbourne to Auckland where he will meet representatives from the Hong Kong community and the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association before speaking at the Asia 2000 Forum that night.

A trip to Wellington begins the day on Thursday (June 18) for a round of political calls including talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Don McKinnon and Minister of Finance Bill Birch.

Mr Tung flies back to Auckland on Friday (June 19) morning for a helicopter tour of the region before he boards his flight for Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive is due to arrive in Hong Kong at about 8.30 pm on CX108.

End/Sunday, June 14, 1998

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