The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, hosted a lunch at Government House today for the Japan/Hong Kong and Hong Kong/Japan Business Cooperation Committees. The Committees are currently holding their 20th Plenary Session in Hong Kong.

Mr Tung congratulated the Committees for their achievements in promoting trade and economic links between Japan and Hong Kong.

Noting that bilateral trade between Japan and Hong Kong had increased by more than eleven-fold since the establishment of the Committees in 1979, Mr Tung said that this was a further proof of the important contribution of the Committees.

"I have full confidence that the dynamic partnership between Japan and Hong Kong will continue to grow by leaps and bounds as fresh opportunities present themselves in the Region in the years to come," he said.