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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, today (December 9, South Africa time) continued his visit to Cape Town together with a Hong Kong business delegation seeking to better understand the country's business and investment opportunities.
In the morning, Mr Tsang and the delegation were given a presentation by the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency and the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum on their trade promotion work.
Their next stop was Century City, a mixed-use Cape Town suburb that combines residential housing, offices and shopping mall components. The visit enabled Mr Tsang and the delegation to gain an improved perspective of South Africa's residential property market.
This was followed by a meeting with the Wines of South Africa, a not-for-profit company representing all of South Africa's wine exporters. Mr Tsang and the delegation were then given a vineyard tour in Stellenbosch.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Tsang said that Hong Kong has firmly established itself as one of the three largest wine auction centres alongside London and New York. Last year, Hong Kong moved ahead of New York to become the world's largest wine auction centre.
"We are also the premier international gateway to vast markets in Mainland China and around Asia. More traders from different wine-producing countries are choosing Hong Kong as a springboard to tap this vibrant and complex market," he added.
Mr Tsang and the delegation later attended a luncheon co-hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Cathay Pacific.
With the conclusion of visit to South Africa, Mr Tsang will leave Johannesburg tomorrow (December 10, South Africa time) and arrive back in Hong Kong on December 11.
Ends/Friday, December 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:33
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