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The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph W P Wong, continued his visit in Sydney today (September 21) where he held a series of meetings with Australian senior government officials and politicians.
Mr Wong called on the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer, Mr Peter Debnam; Shadow Minister for State Development, New South Wales, Mr Donald Page; and the Minister for Water Utilities, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Illawarra, Mr David Campbell. Both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual concern and on enhancing links between the two places.
Mr Wong also hosted a boardroom luncheon for leading businesses there and spoke on the investment environment and business opportunities in Hong Kong.
Earlier, Mr Wong shared with the local media the purposes of his visit. Apart from meeting his Australian counterparts and the business community, Mr Wong said he would attend the informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization in Cairns during which he would exchange views with his ministerial counterparts on how to restart the negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda.
"Hong Kong always wants to play a constructive part to help revive the Round," said Mr Wong.
When asked about Hong Kong-Australia relations, Mr Wong said Australia had a very close relationship with Hong Kong, and also had a lot in common on trade, cultural and human issues.
Mr Wong also spoke on a wide range of issues including the economic developments of Hong Kong and business opportunities on the Mainland.
He gave an assurance that Hong Kong would continue to build on its strengths in finance, trade and transportation, and gave a detailed account of Hong Kong's competitive advantages in offering significant business opportunities for Australian companies, both in its own right as a vibrant economy, and as a gateway to the burgeoning Mainland market.
He highlighted that the Chief Executive had recently convened an economic summit to discuss how Hong Kong should respond to the challenges and opportunities arising from the China's 11th Five-Year Plan, adding that four focus groups had been set up, namely, trade and business; financial services; maritime, logistics and infrastructure; and professional services, innovation and technology and tourism. The focus groups would come up with an action agenda by the end of the year for the Government to follow up.
From Sydney, Mr Wong will fly to Cairns this evening before returning to Hong Kong on Saturday (September 23).
Ends/Thursday, September 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:51
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