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Following is the speech delivered by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the Europe Day reception this evening (May 9):
Mr (Vincent) Piket, your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
First of all, congratulations on Europe Day.
I would like to extend a warm welcome Mr Piket to join us here as the Head of the Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macao since last September. I wish you a happy and fruitful time with us during your tenure in Hong Kong.
Not only is this Mr Piket's first Europe Day reception with us, it is also the first since the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last December for helping to, and I would like to quote from Chairman Jagland of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, "transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace". End quote.
Today commemorates the Schuman Declaration of 1950, which paved the way for what is now the European Union.
As Foreign Minister of France, Robert Schuman wanted to see a more united post-war Europe. Today, 63 years after the Schuman Declaration was made, Europe is enjoying the longest unbroken period of peace in its modern history.
In turn, this has led to much closer cultural integration, stronger economic competitiveness and higher living, health, education and environmental standards.
Hong Kong, as mentioned by Mr Piket, enjoys close historical trade and cultural links with Europe that date back well beyond 1950. We have three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in EU member states: in the region's de facto capital city Brussels, in the cultural and economic hub of Berlin and in the financial centre of London. That does not include our Geneva office because Switzerland is not an EU member state.
Through these ETOs and through our strong business and social networks, Hong Kong is able to develop its relations with the 27 Member States of the EU.
As a bloc, the EU is our second largest trading partner after the Mainland of China. In 2012, the total value of bilateral trade between Hong Kong and the EU was some 64 billion Euros.
We have an equally important part to play in promoting relations between the EU and the Mainland of China. This bilateral relationship was the focus of the Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton's visit to Beijing last month. It was the first visit by an EU representative since the change of leadership in Beijing earlier this year.
Also, last July, Vice President Ashton visited Hong Kong and met with our Chief Executive, just days into the current-term HKSAR Government.
Hong Kong connects Europe to Mainland China through our efficient infrastructure, through our reliable financial and professional services sectors and also through our shared commitment to providing a free and open environment for people to live and to work.
Under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong has effective rule of law. Our common law system is underpinned by an independent judiciary. We respect human rights and we have the world's freest economy with low taxes, and free flows of goods, services, people and capital.
We are working to promote financial connectivity through the liberalisation of the Mainland currency, the Renminbi. London and financial centres across Europe can take full advantage of Hong Kong's unique position as China's global financial centre and hub for offshore Renminbi business.
We look forward to building on our strong relations with Europe, not just for business and finance, but also through stronger understanding and stronger co-operation on innovation and technology, arts and culture and in developing our educational and environmental collaboration.
Striving for peace and unity is not exclusive to Europe; it is a universal goal that can be achieved through our economic, social and political engagement.
Ladies and gentlemen, this year is the 20th anniversary of the European Union office to Hong Kong and Macao. It was one of the first such offices to be established anywhere after the EU was formally launched in 1993.
Much has changed in Europe and in Hong Kong in the past two decades, but our friendship remains resilient during good times and during the more challenging economic periods such as what we have now at this time.
I look forward to relations between the EU and Hong Kong going from strength to strength in the years ahead.
I wish the European Union a peaceful and united future.
Please join me in a toast: To the people of Europe.
Ends/Thursday, May 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:58
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