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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, today (April 27) continued the second day of his visit to Bangkok.
Mr Tsang first met with Thailand's Deputy Minister of Commerce, Mr Poom Sarapol.
This was followed by a meeting with the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand, Ms Nawaporn Ruangskul, at which they discussed developments in the global financial markets.
At a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Tsang spoke on Hong Kong's status as a global asset management and fund-raising centre. He told the Thai business community that Hong Kong has emerged as China's premier platform for offshore Renminbi business.
"Offshore Renminbi business is a fast-moving area that has really taken off in the past couple of years. Today, Thai companies and businesses around the world can settle their trade with Mainland partners using Renminbi. Investors can issue Renminbi bonds and expand their Renminbi portfolios through Hong Kong.
"We welcome more Thai investors to take advantage of Hong Kong's position as a global financial centre in the Asian time zone and as China's international financial centre," Mr Tsang said.
In the afternoon, Mr Tsang held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand, Mr Kittiratt Na-ranong. The two sides looked forward to continuing collaboration between Hong Kong and Thailand in various aspects.
Mr Tsang will have dinner with the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Guan Mu, in the evening.
With the conclusion of his visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, Mr Tsang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (April 28).
Ends/Friday, April 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:47
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