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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will leave Hong Kong in the evening of August 4 (Sunday) for a four-day duty visit to Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, to promote closer ties between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Shortly after his arrival in Auckland on August 5 (Auckland time), Mr So will first meet Hong Kong people working, studying and living in New Zealand. He will then address the Connect Hong Kong business seminar "Hong Kong - The Best Platform for Business Engagement with China and Asia" organised by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association (HKNZBA) to promote trade and economic co-operation between the two places. He will also speak at the opening reception of the Hong Kong Festival in Auckland co-organised by HKNZBA and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO). On the same night, Mr So will attend a boardroom dinner organised by the Asia New Zealand Foundation which gathers the city's prominent business people.
On August 6 (Auckland time), Mr So will depart for Wellington to meet senior government officials of New Zealand, including the Minister for Commerce, Minister for Broadcasting and Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Craig Foss; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Bill English; the Mayor of Wellington, Ms Celia Wade-Brown; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr David Carter; and the Minister for Economic Development, Mr Steven Joyce, to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
In the evening, Mr So will speak at the opening reception of the Hong Kong Festival in Wellington organised by the HKNZBA and Sydney ETO. He will also attend a dinner with members of the Hong Kong New Zealand Parliamentary Friendship Group that night.
Mr So will be back in Hong Kong on August 7.
Ends/Friday, August 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:00
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