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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, continued the final leg of his visit to the United States in Chicago today (September 26, Chicago time).
In the morning Mr Tsang called on the Chinese Consul General in Chicago, Mr Yang Guoqiang.
This was followed by a visit to Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) where Mr Tsang had a meeting with its Executive Chairman, Mr Terrence A Duffy. CME is the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace.
At a lunch hosted by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Mr Charles Evans, Mr Tsang spoke on Hong Kong's unique role as an offshore centre for Renminbi banking, Renminbi trade settlement and the issuance of Renminbi bonds.
Mr Tsang also made a courtesy call on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
In the evening, Mr Tsang attended an event to celebrate Cathay Pacific's launch of daily non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Chicago. Mr Tsang said that direct passenger flights between the two cities will make Hong Kong an even more attractive connecting hub for business travellers and tourists from the US to destinations throughout Asia.
Tomorrow (September 27, Chicago time), Mr Tsang will visit Caterpillar Inc before concluding his visit to the States.
Mr Tsang will return to Hong Kong on September 28.
Ends/Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 10:09
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