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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, continued his visit to India in Mumbai today (October 28).
At a business luncheon hosted by a leading infrastructure and finance company, Mr Tsang addressed an audience comprising leaders from the Indian infrastructure and energy sector.
In his speech, Mr Tsang remarked that China and India were rising to become two economic superpowers and Hong Kong should have a vital role to play in the process.
He encouraged Indian firms to use Hong Kong as a base to advance into the vast Mainland market.
"Nobody knows, I may say frankly and confidently, the Mainland market better than Hong Kong. We are the number one investor in each and every province of Mainland China," Mr Tsang said.
He also encouraged Indian enterprises to list in Hong Kong, making use of its sound financial infrastructure and effective fund raising platform.
Referring to the meeting with the Indian Minister of Finance in New Delhi, Mr Tsang recalled that they discussed the possibility of increasing flights between Hong Kong and India, a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement, visa-free treatment for Hong Kong visitors, and Indian recognition of Hong Kongˇ¦s arbitral awards. He added that all this would be beneficial to businessmen of the two places.
In the afternoon, Mr Tsang visited Tata Consultancy Services, a top software services consulting company headquartered in Mumbai, and exchanged views with the senior management.
The Chief Executive will also officiate at the opening ceremony of "Lifestyle Expo in Mumbai" in the evening.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in cooperation with the Guangdong Province, the inaugural trade fair will showcase a wide range of quality lifestyle products from leading suppliers in the two places for sourcing by Indian companies from October 28 to 30.
Ends/Thursday, October 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:44
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