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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, arrived in Jerusalem yesterday (Sunday) to start a landmark three-day visit to Israel - the first by a serving head of government from Hong Kong.

Mr Tung's trip will focus on Israel's development of high-tech industries, which account for about two-thirds of the country's exports.

Joining Mr Tung on the trip are Secretary for Trade and Industry Chau Tak Hay, Director-General of Industry Francis Ho and Hong Kong business delegates Raymond Ch'ien, Inchcape Pacific chairman; David Wong, Dah Sing Bank chairman; and Richard Li, Pacific Century Group chairman.

Mr Tung and the Hong Kong team started their visit yesterday with a tour of Jerusalem's historic Old City.

The official programme starts today (Monday) with a day of political and ceremonial calls. These will include meetings with Israel's President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ariel Sharon.

Mr Tung will lay wreaths at the Memorial of the Holocaust and at the grave of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, as well as visit the Israel Museum to view ancient manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

On Tuesday, Mr Tung will meet Israel's Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Natan Sharansky, hold luncheon talks with Bank of Israel Governor Professor Ya'acov Frenkel and visit a centre for drug design and development.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Tung and the Hong Kong team leaves for Tel Aviv for a briefing on the Israeli government's support of industry research and development.

On Wednesday, the Chief Executive will visit satellite, multi-media and telecommunications companies, a scientific institute and a facility which nurtures technological innovation and entrepreneurs.

End/Monday, February 1, 1999

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