CE to visit Israel and the UK
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     The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, will depart for Israel on Monday (October 12) to learn more about the development of innovation and technology there. Related industry leaders and academics from Hong Kong will also join the visit to Israel, following which the Chief Executive will visit the United Kingdom (UK).

     On October 13, Mr Leung will visit Jerusalem and call on the Israeli President, Mr Reuven Rivlin, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu. He will visit technology enterprises and the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Mr Leung will also meet members of the parliament of Israel and members of the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce.

     Mr Leung will go to Tel Aviv on the next day (October 14) to visit local innovation and technology enterprises, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University and the desalination plant in Sorek. In the evening on the same day, he will attend a cocktail reception for the opening of the Tel Aviv Consultant Office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

     Mr Leung will depart Israel for London on October 15. He will call on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Philip Hammond; the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Patrick McLoughlin; and members of the All-Party Parliamentary China Group of the UK Parliament. On the same day, he will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on health co-operation between Hong Kong and the UK, and attend the HKTDC Annual Dinner.

     On October 16, Mr Leung will attend a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association. Also, he will visit the London Metal Exchange and a railway project operated by the MTR Corporation Limited. Mr Leung will depart London for Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.

     Accompanying Mr Leung on the visit will be the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Edward Yau; the Director of Information Services, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Private Secretary to the Chief Executive, Mr Carlson Chan. The Advisor to the Chief Executive on Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi, will also attend the visit programmes in Israel.

     Mr Leung will depart for Israel in the afternoon of October 12 and return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of October 17. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, will be the Acting Chief Executive.

Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:39

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