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The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, today (January 28) appealed to Hong Kong and Japanese organisations in Japan for their support in the "Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005" to further advance the friendship and partnership between Hong Kong and Japan.
In "Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005", a series of exchange activities covering business, education, tourism and culture will be organised in Japan under the co-ordination of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Tokyo.
Attending the reception to celebrate the "Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005" during his visit to Japan, Mr Tang was impressed to meet guests from various sectors of the Japanese community, who had the common wish to promote the relationship between Hong Kong and Japan.
Noting that Hong Kong and Japan had established close ties in various fronts over the years, Mr Tang stressed that the introduction of CEPA and the granting of visa free access to visit Japan by the Japanese government for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders had provided further impetus which led to the strengthening of these ties.
"I am particularly pleased to note that 'Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005' will be launched concurrently with the 'Japan - Hong Kong Year 2005' project, which was launched in Hong Kong last week," he said.
The Financial Secretary wished for the success of both projects, which were designed to provide organisations and individuals from both Hong Kong and Japan with a framework to organise activities in a coherent way in order to further strengthen the relationships.
To show their support, senior Japanese government officials, including the Chairman of Japan-HK Parliamentarian League and former Prime Minister, Mr Tsutomu Hata; and Minister of Environment, Ms Yuriko Koike, also attended the reception as officiating guests.
As the planner of the "Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005", the Principal Representative of HKETO in Tokyo, Mr Alex Fong, expressed gratitude to all the parties who had been contributing to the friendship and exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan, and urged for their continued support in the forthcoming activities.
Reviewing the major exchange events in the past years, he highlighted the business mission to Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta, the Hong Kong Week cultural exhibition and the First Hong Kong Sedan Chair Race in Japan, saying that they were successfully implemented with the joint efforts of the public and private sectors of Hong Kong and Japan.
Activities to be organised under the year-long "Hong Kong - Japan Year 2005" include:
Business - a business seminar organised by Hong Kong Japan Business Co-operation Conference, Joint Hong Kong-Shanghai Business Promotion and a business mission to Hong Kong and Yangtze River Delta;
Education - a mission from Hong Kong to the World Expo 2005 in Aichi;
Tourism - promotion of Hong Kong Disneyland and Hong Kong sales event in major department stores;
Culture - Hong Kong film festival, Second Hong Kong Sedan Chair Race and Karaoke contest.
Ends/Friday, January 28, 2005
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