**********************************************************
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will leave Hong Kong today (September 17) for a five-day visit to Ningbo, Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing to promote Hong Kong's co-operation with the Mainland in the areas of trade, tourism and creative industries.
Mr So will meet with leaders of the Ningbo municipal government later today to exchange views on the latest developments of the two cities. He will then attend and speak at the opening of the 2012 Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum tomorrow (September 18).
The Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum is jointly organised by the Ningbo Municipal People's Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to promote trade and economic co-operation between the two cities.
After attending the opening of the Forum, Mr So will depart for Shanghai to meet with Hong Kong businessmen and professionals from trade associations and other Hong Kong-related organisations in Shanghai to listen to their views on operating businesses and working in the Mainland.
On September 19, Mr So will visit Shanghai's creative cluster, Bridge 8, to see how the site was developed through the revitalisation of old community facilities and the injection of innovative and technological elements. He will also visit the International Imported Goods Exhibition & Trading Center in ShanghaiMart and Hongqiao Central Business District to learn more about the latest developments in Shanghai's commercial area.
Afterwards, Mr So will depart for Tianjin to attend the opening of the 2012 China Tourism Industries Exposition, jointly organised by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Tianjin Municipal People's Government on September 20. He will also visit the Tianjin Cruise Terminal.
In the evening, he will depart for Beijing to co-chair on September 21 the 2012 Hong Kong and Mainland Tourism Working Meeting with the Chairman of the CNTA, Mr Shao Qiwei, to discuss various issues on the direction of tourism co-operation and the strategy for joint tourism promotion between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
A CNTA delegation and representatives from the Tourism Commission, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong will also attend the meeting.
Mr So will return to Hong Kong on September 21.
Ends/Monday, September 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 09:30
NNNN
