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2014 Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic Co-operation Forum explores opportunities for co-operation in financial services (with photos)
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     The 2014 Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic Co-operation Forum was held in Taipei today (December 10) to explore the new collaboration opportunities in financial services in the Asia-Pacific region. The forum was attended by about 250 participants, including economic and financial experts, academics and members of the industrial and business sectors from Hong Kong and Taiwan. They discussed how the financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Taiwan could be enhanced in view of the rapid economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, including the development of offshore Renminbi business and co-operation in the securities market.

     Speaking at the opening of the forum, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (Taiwan) (HKETCO), Mr John Leung, said the HKETCO has been promoting mutual co-operation in economic affairs and trade as well as cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan since its establishment three years ago. He noted that this forum was already the third of its kind held in Taiwan.

     "In October last year, the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic Co-operation Forum made its debut in Taipei to host discussion of the prospects of economic and trade co-operation between the two places, including the possibility of signing an economic co-operation agreement and the development of offshore Renminbi business. In May this year, the HKETCO held another forum in Kaohsiung and invited experts of the tourism and logistics industries from Hong Kong and Taiwan to explore the collaboration opportunities in these two areas," Mr Leung added.

     Officiating at today's forum were the Chairman of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Business Co-operation Committee (BCC), Mr David Lie, and the Chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan, Mr Lai Cheng-i. Mr Lie pointed out that bilateral trade, investment and tourism between Hong Kong and Taiwan have seen favourable rising trends. The BCC has endeavoured to promote co-operation in flows of people, goods and capital between both places since its establishment, and Mr Lie expressed the hope that the Hong Kong and Taiwan governments could sign a closer economic partnership agreement in the near future.

     The Managing Director of the Bellwether International Group, Ms Christina Liu, was invited to be one of the keynote speakers. She gave a macro analysis on the prospects of financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Taiwan.

     Also speaking at the forum was the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, who discussed Hong Kong's experience in developing offshore Renminbi business. He was later joined by the Chairman of Hua Nan Financial Holdings Company Limited, Mr Liu Teng-cheng; the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan), Mr John Tan; and Ms Liu in a panel discussion on the business opportunities arising from the joint promotion of offshore Renminbi business in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

     As the recently launched Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect has become a focus in the financial market, the Managing Director and Head of Mainland Development at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Mao Zhirong, gave an introduction on its implementation in Hong Kong. He also exchanged views with the Board Chairman of Mega Securities Company Limited, Dr Darby Liu, on the co-operation opportunities in securities between Hong Kong and Taiwan.

     The 2014 Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic Co-operation Forum was jointly organised by the HKETCO and Business Weekly, in association with the BCC and the Hong Kong Business Association in Taipei (HKBA). The HKBA was established in August this year by a group of Hong Kong businessmen and Taiwan entrepreneurs. It aims to promote exchanges and co-operation among business corporations in Hong Kong and Taiwan and set up an exchange platform for the business sectors in the Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as enhance the corporations' mutual competitiveness in the Greater China region, achieving a win-win situation.

Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:49

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