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The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, today (February 1) officiates at the opening ceremony of the permanent office of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (Shanghai ETO).
With the opening of the new office, the Shanghai ETO is moving full steam ahead to promote economic relations and cooperation between Hong Kong and the Yangtze River Delta as well as its neighbouring areas. Specifically, the ETO covers the Municipality of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hubei.
Speaking at the opening ceremony cum gala dinner, the Financial Secretary said the timely establishment of the Shanghai ETO would not only strengthen Hong Kong・s trade and economic ties and exchanges with Shanghai and the four provinces but also help take forward relevant items in Hong Kong・s Action Agenda under the 11th Five-Year Plan.
：The implementation of CEPA has widened the scope for economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong and the region, and the extension of the ．Individual Visit Scheme・ to Shanghai and the capital cities of the four provinces has brought the peoples of the two places closer,； Mr Tang said.
：The National 11th Five-Year Plan has explicitly supported Hong Kong・s development of service industries in such areas as financial services, logistics, tourism and information services. It also gives recognition to our edge in modern service industries and their contributions towards the Country・s continued economic growth.
：Hong Kong, with its proven edge, can serve as the gateway and platform for the Mainland to ．go out・, thus contributing to the Country・s economic development,； he continued.
Echoing Mr Tang, the Director of Shanghai ETO, Mr Patrick Chan, said the operation of the new office marked ：the dawning of a new era； in Hong Kong・s relationships with the four provinces and Shanghai.
：Our exchanges and cooperation with these places will be more frequent and closer in future,； Mr Chan added.
Other officiating guests present at today・s opening ceremony are: President of Shanghai Overseas Friendship Association, Mr Yang Xiaodu; Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr Zhang Weiguo; Vice Chairman of the People・s Congress of Anhui Province, Mr Zhou Benli; Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Mr Tang Dengjie; Vice Governor of Anhui Province, Ms Wen Haiying; Vice Chairman of CPPCC of Anhui Province and Head of the United Front Work Department of CPC Anhui Committee, Mr Zheng Mumin; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Jun; Deputy Secretary-General of Zhejiang Province, Mr Lou Xiaodong; Deputy Secretary-General of Hubei Province, Mr Wang Guoyao; and Director of Shanghai ETO, Mr Patrick Chan.
To allow the enterprises of these provinces and Shanghai to learn more about the business opportunities and services that can be provided by Hong Kong as an international financial centre, Shanghai ETO would hold a seminar on Hong Kong・s financial services tomorrow (February 2).
The seminar, which would be officiated by the Financial Secretary, would brief some 200 business leaders and senior managers on the latest investment environment in Hong Kong, as well as the services provided in capital financing, company acquisition/merger, financial and company management consultancy.
It is hoped that through the seminar, Mainland enterprises that are interested in investing in Hong Kong would better appreciate Hong Kong as a good partner in expanding business and entering the world market.
Other speakers at the seminar include Chief Executive, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Paul Chow; Member of the Board and Executive Director of Intermediaries and Investment Products, Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Alexa Lam; Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Simon Galpin and representatives from the banking, accountancy and financial services sectors.
Shanghai ETO is located on the 21st floor, The Headquarters Building, 168 Xizang Road Middle, Huangpu District, Shanghai. It is the third office established by the HKSAR Government in the Mainland with a mission to assist Mainland enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta region to enter the world market and to provide support to Hong Kong enterprises in the region to facilitate their business development.
Ends/Thursday, February 1, 2007
Issued at HKT 22:57
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