***********************************************************
The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Lam, today (November 7) had a breakfast meeting with the visiting Honorary Chairman of the Kuomintang, Mr Lien Chan, and his delegation at their hotel.
On behalf of the HKSAR Government, Mr Lam welcomed Mr Lien and congratulated him on the award of Honorary Doctor of Social Science by the City University of Hong Kong.
Mr Lam recalled his first meeting with Mr Lien in 2005. He was glad to see the strengthening of cross-strait relations over the past six years, and that co-operation between Hong Kong and Taiwan had been put on a proper track.
Mr Lam reviewed the gradual enhancement of the relationship between Hong Kong and Taiwan over the past few years. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board opened their Taipei offices in October 2008 and September 2011 respectively. Various measures have been launched by Hong Kong to facilitate entry by Taiwanese visitors to Hong Kong for leisure or business purposes.
Mr Lam said, "Hong Kong-Taiwan relations have been put on a proper track. The Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC) were established in 2010. Through this platform, Hong Kong and Taiwanese officials can, in appropriate capacities, exchange views, discuss and co-operate on economic, trade and cultural issues which are of mutual concern, in particular on issues involving public policies."
Under the ECCPC/THEC umbrella, the two sides have reached consensus on a number of priority areas of co-operation, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding for banking supervision co-operation by their respective financial regulators in August this year, and the strengthening of exchanges by the cultural and creative industries between the two places. Both sides have also recognised the importance of fostering closer economic co-operation so that Hong Kong and Taiwan could complement each other, thereby promoting development in the two places.
"In order to further promote long-term co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan, we plan to set up the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan within this year. The setting up of Hong Kong's multi-functional office in Taiwan signifies that the development of Hong Kong-Taiwan relations has entered a new phase," said Mr Lam.
In the spirit of reciprocity, the Chung Hwa Travel Service was renamed as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Hong Kong) with effect from July 15, 2011, to reflect its functions.
Mr Lam thanked the Taiwanese side for its efforts in promoting co-operation between Hong Kong and Taiwan over the past few years and hoped that the interplay between the two places would be further developed on this basis.
Joining Mr Lam at the breakfast meeting were the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam, and the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Joshua Law.
Ends/Monday, November 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:52
NNNN
