The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Beijing and Tianjin from September 13 to 14 to meet with officials of the relevant ministry and municipal governments and officiate at the opening ceremony of the Tianjin Liaison Unit-cum-gala lunch to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).  

     In Beijing, Mr Nip met with the Executive Vice Mayor of the Beijing Municipal Government, Mr Zhang Gong, and the Director General of the Department of Regional Economy of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Guo Lanfeng, respectively to exchange views on enhancing co-operation between Beijing and Hong Kong and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area.

     During his stay in Tianjin, Mr Nip called on the Vice Mayor of the Tianjin Municipality, Mr Zhao Haishan, and exchanged views with him on enhancing co-operation between Tianjin and Hong Kong. He also officiated at the opening ceremony of the Tianjin Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government cum HKSAR 20th Anniversary Gala Lunch, and at the opening ceremony of the "Together · Progress · Opportunity" Roving Exhibition in Tianjin in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland.

     Speaking at the Gala Lunch, Mr Nip said that Tianjin had benefitted from the development of its Free Trade Zone, the Belt and Road Initiative and the strategy of Coordinated Development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. This could translate into huge investment and trade opportunities for Hong Kong.

     In this connection, the Tianjin Liaison Unit was established to foster communication and co-operation with the Tianjin Municipal Government, enhance complementarity between Hong Kong and Tianjin and provide more support to Hong Kong people and enterprises set up in the municipality, he said.

     Mr Nip said the Tianjin Liaison Unit would play an important role as a bridge between Hong Kong and Tianjin with a view to strengthening co-operation between the two places in different aspects, and by taping the respective advantages of their industries, taking forward important development strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve win-win growth. 

     Other officiating guests present at the ceremony today included the Vice Mayor of the Tianjin Municipality, Mr Zhao Haishan; the Vice Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, Mr Cao Hanjun; the Chief of the co-ordination section of the Liaison Department of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Tai Fan; the Director of the Beijing Office of the HKSAR Government, Ms Gracie Foo; and the Director of the Tianjin Liaison Unit, Mr Klaus Chan.
     
     After the Gala Lunch, Mr Nip officiated at the opening ceremony of the Exhibition together with Mr Cao, Mr Tai, Ms Foo and Mr Chan.

     The Exhibition presents the exciting city landscape, latest developments and the blueprint for the future development of Hong Kong, and showcases how Hong Kong and the Mainland have been working together in fostering the development, exchanges and co-operation of both places. The Exhibition will be open to the public for free until September 19.

     The Tianjin Liaison Unit is set up under the purview of the Beijing Office. Its office is located at Room 4126, Tianjin World Financial Center, No. 2 Dagubei Road, Heping District, Tianjin. Hong Kong people living in Tianjin can contact the Tianjin Liaison Unit by phone at (86 22) 5830 7884 or by email at tjlu@bjo.gov.hk for assistance and enquiries.

Ends/Thursday, September 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:25

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