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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, will leave tomorrow (March 16) for a visit to Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia to foster closer economic relations.
On his first stop in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (March 17), Mr Tsang will call on Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. Later in the day, he will meet Malaysian Finance Minister II, Dato' Seri Haji Ahmad Husni bin Mohamad Hanadzlah. In the evening, he will officiate at the opening premiere of the Hong Kong Film Festival.
On Thursday (March 18), Mr Tsang will visit the Bank Negara Malaysia where he will meet the senior management and have a round-table with prominent figures in Islamic Finance. Mr Tsang will speak at a business luncheon to update the Malaysian business community the latest situation in Hong Kong. The business luncheon is co-organised by the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.
Later in the day, Mr Tsang will call on the Securities Commission Malaysia where he will have a meeting with the Chairman of Securities Commission Malaysia, Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar.
Mr Tsang will arrive in Brunei on Saturday (March 20) for the second leg of his visit. He will attend the Signing Ceremony of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation between Hong Kong and Brunei. It will be the sixth comprehensive double taxation agreement Hong Kong has signed with its trading partners, and will help foster closer economic and trade links between the two places.
Also in Brunei, Mr Tsang will hold meetings with Brunei's Second Minister of Finance, Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, and the Brunei Economic Development Board. He will also have an audience with His Majesty The Sultan and Yang DiPertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.
On his arrival in Jakarta on March 23, Mr Tsang will attend a lunch hosted by HSBC with leaders in the banking and financial services sector in Jakarta. He will meet the Indonesian Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Acting Governor of Bank Indonesia, Mr Darmin Nasution, and sign the Comprehensive Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation between Hong Kong and Indonesia. In the evening, Mr Tsang will attend a cocktail reception hosted by Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
On March 24, Mr Tsang will have meetings with Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Dr Mari Elka Pangestu, and Chairman of Capital Market and Financial Institution Supervisory Agency, Dr A Fuad Rahmany, before returning to Hong Kong.
During Mr Tsang's absence, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, will act as Financial Secretary.
Ends/Monday, March 15, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:01
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