**********************************************************
Hong Kong has emerged as an even more important gateway to China than before as its economic integration with the Mainland advances, the Principal Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mrs Jennie Chok, said today (July 30).
Delivering a speech at the Hong Kong Business Seminar in Gifu, Japan, Mrs Chok said Hong Kong, as a major gateway to China, and further supported by the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) implemented in 2003, was in the best position to benefit from the opportunities of the huge Mainland market.
The April signing of the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation and the benefits that it brings to Hong Kong-invested enterprises were also highlighted.
"The benefits of CEPA and those under the new Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation are available to all eligible companies incorporated in HK, irrespective of their nationality. And so, foreign funded companies could also take advantage of those benefits," Mrs Chok stressed.
She also highlighted the strong characteristics and fundamentals of the Hong Kong economy that inspired investors' confidence.
"These include the rule of law upheld by an independent judiciary, stable and clean government, a low and simple tax system, free trade, a level-playing field for doing business, efficient communications, free flow of information and capital, a convertible currency,กจ Mrs Chok said.
Given the strength of Gifu manufacturing industries, state-of-the-art technologies and increasing exports to Asia, Mrs Chok encouraged Gifu enterprises to look into related developments in Hong Kong and identify collaboration opportunities.
The seminar was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo to promote closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Japan. It was attended by some 80 government officials and business leaders including the Executive Director of the Department of Commerce, Labour and Industry of the Gifu Prefectural Government, Mr Yoshihide Esaki, and the Vice Mayor of Gifu City, Mr Yoshihiko Narihara.
Ends/Friday, July 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:33
NNNN