Vice-President visits HKMA Resource Centre in HK's tallest building (with photos)

Vice-President visits HKMA Resource Centre in HK's tallest
building (with photos)
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Vice-President Zeng Qinghong resumed his busy schedule in Hong Kong this afternoon (September 11) with a visit to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) Resource Centre at Two International Finance Centre.

The centre was the first afternoon stop for Mr Zeng, who is in Hong Kong on a three-day official visit that includes Monday's Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland.

From the HKMA conference room on the 56th floor of Two IFC, the Vice-President was able to take in a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour and the West Kowloon area. From the HKMA information centre on the 55th floor he enjoyed a view of Tsing Ma Bridge, Central and Western District.

Mr Zeng was met by Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Financial Secretary Mr Henry Tang, and Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Joseph Yam who explained the history of the pegging of the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar and gave a brief history of bank notes circulating in Hong Kong. He also showed Mr Zeng some of the differences between counterfeit and genuine bank notes.

The HKMA is Hong Kong's central banking institution with four main functions – maintaining the stability of the Hong Kong dollar, promoting the safety of Hong Kong's banking system, managing its official reserves and developing its financial infrastructure.

With 88 floors, Two IFC is Hong Kong's tallest building and in terms of the highest accessible point, is the fourth tallest in the world.

Accompanied by Chief Executive Mr Tsang, Mr Zeng next visited the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) where he met Central Government officials based in Hong Kong and senior officials of Hong Kong-based Chinese enterprises.

The highlight of the day's activities was a welcoming banquet at the Island Shangri-La Hotel attended by about 400 community leaders, including Executive and Legislative Councillors.

Before attending the banquet, Mr Zeng met with Vice-Chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Henry Fok and Mr Tung Chee Hwa, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Li Kwok-nang, Executive Councillors and HKSAR principal officials. A separate meeting with Macao Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho followed.

Ends/Sunday, September 11, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:49

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