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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, arrived in Brussels this morning on the first day of her European tour.

She was received in audience at the Royal Palace today (June 14) by Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium. Mrs Chan took the opportunity to underline once again our good bilateral ties with Belgium and congratulated His Royal Highness on the success of his earlier visit to Hong Kong in promoting quality products from Belgium.

At a reception, HRH also introduced to the Chief Secretary the CEOs of a number of top Belgian environmental firms. She highlighted our plans to improve our air and water quality and encouraged Belgian environmental companies to bring their latest technology to Hong Kong.

The Chief Secretary called on the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Louis Michel, and attended a lunch hosted by Mr Michel. The Chief Secretary briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on the recovery of the Hong Kong economy and Hong Kong's role as a gateway to doing business in Asia. She looked forward to enhanced co-operation between the two places. Mrs Chan also raised the question of visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders and thanked the Belgian government for its support.

In the afternoon Mrs Chan departed for Berlin, the next leg of her trip. In Berlin, Mrs Chan will lead a high-level business delegation, which will take part in a two-day extensive promotion of Hong Kong in the German capital.

Mrs Chan will return to Brussels on June 21 to call on European Commission officials and the European Parliament.

End/Wednesday, June 14, 2000

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