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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will leave Hong Kong on October 12 (Monday) for a duty visit to Belgium to deepen Hong Kong's ties with the European Union and Belgium, as well as to promote Hong Kong as an investment and tourist destination.
Upon arrival, Mr So will visit a technology incubator and co-working space for start-ups in Brussels. He will then meet in Antwerp with Belgium's Hong Kong community to update them on Hong Kong's latest developments and encourage them to seek opportunities in Hong Kong. In the evening, he will officiate at and attend a Cantonese opera performance in Antwerp, staged by Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop from Hong Kong, organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels).
On October 13, Mr So will have meetings with senior officials of Belgium and the European Commission. He will take the opportunity to meet with the Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, Mr Qu Xing. He will also attend a ceremony to dress Manneken-Pis in a Hong Kong costume which showcases the cosmopolitan style of the city. In the evening, Mr So will attend the Hong Kong Gala Dinner organised by HKETO, Brussels, at which Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine prepared by Hong Kong's Chinese Culinary Institute will be paired with Belgian beers, symbolising the friendship between Hong Kong and Belgium and promoting Hong Kong as a gourmet paradise in Asia.
Mr So will be back in Hong Kong on October 15. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Godfrey Leung, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr So's absence.
Ends/Friday, October 9, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:25
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