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The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, today (November 10) began his visit to Tokyo, Japan, to promote Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre.
This morning, Professor Chan paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Cui Tiankai. He had lunch with House of Representative member, Mr Banri Kaieda, and updated him on the latest developments in Hong Kong. Mr Kaieda is also the Secretary General of the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarian League.
In the afternoon, Professor Chan called on the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency, Mr Katsunori Mikuniya, and exchanged views with him on financial market regulatory reforms.
Professor Chan also addressed a listing conference jointly organised by the Hong Kong Exchange, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong. He highlighted to more than 200 business and finance executives Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial centre in the Asia time zone. Professor Chan said that, given its unique advantage as a gateway to the Mainland, Hong Kong could serve Japanese companies in gaining access to China, one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing capital markets in the world.
Tonight, Professor Chan will attend a roundtable dinner and discuss with leading Japanese finance executives and think-tankers recent developments in the region's financial markets.
Tomorrow (November 11), Professor Chan will deliver a keynote speech on Hong Kong's initiatives in developing Islamic finance at Nikkei's Islamic Finance Symposium 2009.
Professor Chan will visit the Tokyo Stock Exchange before returning to Hong Kong at night.
Ends/Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:54
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