********************************************************
The Financial Secretary, Henry Tang, will leave Hong Kong for Beijing tomorrow evening (November 27) to attend various promotional events under the 9th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium, which is organised by the Beijing Municipal Government in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the major business chambers in Hong Kong. The objective is to explore business opportunities available to enterprises of the two places through direct investment and business cooperation.
Mr Tang will officiate and speak at the opening ceremony of economic cooperation symposium on November 28 morning. While he is in Beijing, Mr Tang will also meet with the Mayor and other leaders of the Beijing Municipal Government.
Mr Tang will fly to Wuhan on November 30 to attend a variety of promotional activities under the "Hubei – Hong Kong Week" jointly organised by the Hubei Provincial People's Government and the Hong Kong SAR Government. The objective is to promote economic co-operation and exchanges under the framework of the Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
The Hong Kong delegation to Hubei will be led by the Financial Secretary. Other HKSAR senior officials attending the "Hubei – Hong Kong Week" include Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma; Acting Director of Beijing Office, Mr Patrick Nip; and Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Mike Rowse. More than 200 Hong Kong representatives from commerce, industry, financial services, legal services, tourism and other professional services sectors will participate in various activities of the "Hubei – Hong Kong Week".
During his stay in Wuhan, Mr Tang will meet with leaders of the Hubei Provincial People's Government on November 30 afternoon before attending a welcome dinner to be hosted by the Provincial Government. In the morning of December 1, Mr Tang will speak at the opening ceremony of the "Hubei – Hong Kong Week". He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Hong Kong Dinner to be organised by the Beijing Office in the evening.
Mr Tang will leave Wuhan on December 2 for Shanghai, where he will attend the 2005 Shanghai-Hong Kong Metropolitan Development Seminar scheduled for December 3. Mr Tang will also call on the Mayor and meet with other leaders of the Shanghai Municipal Government during his stay in Shanghai.
Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on December 4. During Mr Tang's absence from Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Ip, the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, will double up as the Financial Secretary in addition to his own duties.
Ends/Saturday, November 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:15
NNNN
