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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, will travel to South Korea on Sunday (October 26) to promote Hong Kong's role as an international business and financial hub and a strategic partner for accessing the Mainland market.

During his three-day visit to Seoul, Mr Tsang will brief his audiences on the value that Hong Kong's financial and services expertise can add to Korean companies doing business in the Mainland - and the rest of the world.

"Hong Kong and Korea have a long-standing trade, investment, tourism and cultural partnership, which continues to strengthen," Mr Tsang said. "This visit will be extremely useful in taking our relationship to the next level.

"With Hong Kong recovering vigorously from the SARS outbreak, it is an opportune time to brief Korean businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), on the opportunities available to them.

"In particular, I want to give them details about the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and how Korean SMEs can take advantage of Hong Kong's financial and services expertise to access the Mainland market - not only in the Pearl River Delta, but all across China."

On Sunday (October 26), Mr Tsang will officiate at the Hong Kong Tourism Board's "Hong Kong, Live It! Love It!" promotional event and the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Film Festival at Seoul's COEX exhibition centre.

The Chief Secretary will have two busy days of political, financial and business-related meetings in the Korean capital on Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday (October 27), he will deliver the keynote address at a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at the Shilla Hotel. In addition, Mr Tsang will meet with South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, Mr Kim Jin-pyo; the Mayor of Seoul, Mr Lee Myung-bak; the Minister for Trade, Mr Hwang Doo-yun; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yoon Young-kwan; and hold discussions with a business think-tank.

Tuesday's (October 28) programme begins with a breakfast roundtable discussion on Asia-Pacific Economic Development, at which Mr Tsang will brief business and finance leaders. He will also call on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Park Kwan Yong, and attend a luncheon with National Assembly lawmakers, at which he will bring them up to date on political and economic developments in Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang will return to Hong Kong in the evening of October 28.

Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2003

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