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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will depart Hong Kong tomorrow (February 9) for a duty visit to Toronto and Vancouver in Canada to foster Hong Kong's economic and trade relations with the country.
While in Toronto on February 10 and 11, Mr So will visit a business incubator and a non-profit organisation which drives the commercialisation of innovative ideas and provides training and coaching on entrepreneurship for students and youths. He will meet with the Chairperson of the Canada-Hong Kong Friendship Group of the House of Commons of Canada, Mr Michael Chong, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. He will deliver a keynote speech at a lunch roundtable for the business community co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) and the Greater Toronto Area section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association. He will meet with the Minister of International Trade of Canada, Ms Chrystia Freeland, and sign the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Hong Kong and Canada. He will also meet with the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Xue Bing. Mr So will also take the opportunity to attend a Chinese New Year celebration dinner with the Hong Kong community in Toronto.
Mr So will visit Vancouver on February 12. He will first pay a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver, Ms Liu Fei, followed by a visit to Creative BC, an independent agency for promoting the development of creative industries in the Province of British Columbia. He will then attend a lunch meeting with directors and advisors of the Vancouver section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association and deliver a keynote speech. After that, he will meet with government officials of the Province of British Columbia. Before concluding his visit, Mr So will attend a Chinese New Year celebration dinner with the Hong Kong community in Vancouver.
Mr So will return to Hong Kong in the morning on February 14. 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/Monday, February 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 10:01
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