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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, will leave for Australia late this evening (July 31) for a five-day visit.
While in Australia, he will attend the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), meet government and economic leaders, and visit a number of vineyards and wineries to promote Hong Kong as a wine trading and distribution centre.
At the first stop, Adelaide, Mr Tsang will meet the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Mr Hieu Van Le, and pay courtesy calls on the Premier and the Acting Deputy Premier. He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Hong Kong Australia Business Association South Australia Business Awards presentation ceremony.
He will have a breakfast meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Mr Zhang Junsai, on August 2 before visiting several vineyards and wineries in Adelaide.
On August 3, Mr Tsang will leave for Melbourne where he will attend the APEC SRMM and hold bilateral meetings with the President of the Asian Development Bank and the Treasurer of Australia.
On August 5, he will officiate at the pre-screening reception for ˇ§Hong Kong Cinema ˇV The Drummerˇ¨ at the Melbourne International Film Festival and address a dinner organised by the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre and hosted by the Non-Executive Chairman of JP Morgan Australia and New Zealand, Sir Rod Eddington.
Mr Tsang will be back in Hong Kong on August 6. During his absence, the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, will be the Acting Financial Secretary.
Ends/Thursday, July 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00
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