***************************************
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, this evening (June 30) attended a reception in Shanghai celebrating the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The reception was attended by Shanghai's Deputy Mayor, Mr Tang Dengjie, and more than 200 guests from Shanghai, neighbouring provinces, and the Hong Kong community in Shanghai.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Tang said he valued highly the special relationship between Hong Kong and Shanghai. He said that Hong Kong's participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo) demonstrated the close co-operation between the two cities, and that he hoped Hong Kong and Shanghai would continue to capitalise on the synergy.
In the morning, Mr Tang visited Tianzi Fang to learn about the creative industry in Shanghai. He said the organic integration of arts and commerce in the area served as a good reference for Hong Kong. Tianzi Fang has been successfully transformed from an old residential area into an arts and cultural cluster that comprises galleries, studios, retail and catering businesses.
In the afternoon, Mr Tang visited the Hongqiao Integrated Transport Hub, where he was briefed by Shanghai officials on the expansion of Hongqiao Airport and the development plan of the integrated transport hub.
With the support of the Hong Kong and Shanghai governments, the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Shanghai Airport Authority jointly formed the Shanghai Hong Kong Airport Management Co., Ltd. last October to manage the expanded Hongqiao airport and the east transportation centre of the integrated transport hub.
"I am delighted to see the Airport Authority Hong Kong applying its widely acclaimed management expertise to Hongqiao Airport by becoming a management partner of the airport," Mr Tang said. "This is conducive to furthering bilateral air transport co-operation in the long run."
Coming into operation in phases since early this year, the Shanghai Hongqiao Integrated Transport hub is a major transport infrastructure project comprising airport, high speed railway, magnetic levitation system, intercity railway, monorail and highway links.
Tomorrow, Mr Tang will visit the Hong Kong Pavilion at Shanghai Expo and officiate at a ceremony to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. He will return to Hong Kong after the ceremony.
Ends/Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:15
NNNN