The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, will visit Tokyo, Brussels and London in the second half of this month to renew ties with Japan, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the European Union and update them on developments in Hong Kong after the handover.

He will be in Tokyo from October 15 to 17, return to Hong Kong and then leave for Europe on October 19. He will be in Brussels on October 20 and 21 and in London from October 21 to 23. Mr Tung will return to Hong Kong on October 24.

During these visits, Mr Tung will call on political and business leaders, and brief them on the smooth transition in Hong Kong which demonstrates local people's pride to return to China and confidence in "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" under the "one country, two systems" principle.

In Tokyo, he will call on ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials of the Japanese Government. Arrangements have been made for him to meet with the Chairman of Keidanren, the Chairman of the Japan Federation of Bankers Association, members of the Japan Hong Kong Business Co-operation Committee, as well as senior representatives of the Japanese tourism industry.

Mr Tung will deliver a keynote speech at a luncheon jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Japan, the Hong Kong Tourist Association and the Japan Hong Kong Society.

In Brussels, Mr Tung will have discussion with the President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer; EC Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan; the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Jean-Luc Dehaene, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Eric Derycke.

In London, a meeting between the Chief Executive and the British Prime Minister is being arranged. Mr Tung will also meet the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, and the President of the Board of Trade and Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mrs Margaret Beckett.

The Chief Executive will address the first plenary session of the HK/EU and EU/HK Business Co-operation Committees in Brussels. He will be delivering keynote speeches at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London and at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Annual Dinner in Brussels and in London.

Mr Tung will reassure overseas audiences of Hong Kong's continued role as an active regional and global player in international trade, commerce and finance.

He will also welcome international investors to come to Hong Kong to take advantage of the enormous business opportunities here as Hong Kong becomes a part of China.