CE's speech at the French National Day Reception (English only) (with photo/ video)

CE's speech at the French National Day Reception (English only) (with photo/ video)
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     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the French National Day Reception held at the Bauhinia Room of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this (July 14)evening:

Consul General, [Mr Jean-Pierre Thebault], distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Bonjour. It is a great pleasure to join you to celebrate the National Day of France – the 220th anniversary of Bastille Day.

     Relations between Hong Kong and France also have a long history, dating back to the middle of the 19th century. This helps to explain the deep ties between us today. I am also pleased to see our bilateral relations continue to advance on many levels, including trade, finance and culture.

     Le French May has become the largest celebration of French culture in Asia, and is now one of Hong Kong’s biggest festivals of art and culture. The French International School enjoys an excellent reputation, and is popular with local and overseas students. Every year, exchange programmes between Hong Kong and France allow more of our young people to meet and learn about our respective cultures.

     Tourism provides routes to cultural exchange and understanding, and we have seen a huge increase in visitors from France. The number of French arrivals has risen by about 50 per cent in the last few years, reaching nearly a quarter of a million last year.

     Bilateral trade has always been the driving force behind our close relationship. Hong Kong's exports to France increased 6 per cent last year, reaching US$4.8 billion. This followed the 7 per cent growth in 2007. At the same time, Hong Kong's imports from France soared by 9 per cent last year, to reach US$3.2 billion.

     Although the global economic downturn has had a negative impact on trade this year, we expect the upward trend to resume as trade between France and the Mainland of China gets back on track. I am confident that Hong Kong’s position as an entrepot between France and the Mainland will lead to further increases in trade between us.

     Hong Kong provides a base for around 600 French companies covering various sectors from banking to finance and transport to media.  Many of these companies use Hong Kong as a launch pad for doing business with the Mainland, taking advantage of our business-friendly environment and our experience in connecting overseas companies to the Mainland and to the rest of the region.

     France is our largest supplier of wine imports.Last year we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to give this trade a further boost. This underlines the strength of our zero duty on wine and is likely to be a very important underpinning for our bilateral trade in the years to come.  Having removed duties on wine – and with French expertise to call on – Hong Kong is fast becoming Asia's wine hub. We look forward to exploring further the potential for this sector.

     Finally, I would very much like to thank Jean-Pierre Thebault for his hard work in promoting strong relations between Hong Kong and France over the past four years. I hope you have enjoyed your time in Asia’s world city and I wish you and your family every happiness and every success in all your future endeavours.

     And most of all, I was very touched by the remarks about the friendship you have experienced in Hong Kong. A friendship which I am sure will endure in the years to come and I hope it is not the last Bastille Day of yours in Hong Kong.  We hope you will visit Hong Kong many many times in the years to come.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Consul General, this evening we celebrate Bastille Day. Please raise your glasses and join me in a toast: Vive la France!

Ends/Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:38

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