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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the gala dinner of Lifestyle Expo in Mumbai, India today (October 28):
Minister Shetty, Consul-General Mr Niu, Guangdong Governor Mr Huang, Mr Lam, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to join you for this Gala Dinner.
Globalisation has brought many Indian treasures to the shores of Hong Kong over the years.
Throughout our city's development merchants and entrepreneurs from India have been instrumental in shaping the lifestyle of Hong Kong people.
Our world-famous Star Ferry, one of our city's most iconic symbols, is a great example. The Star Ferry was founded by an Indian cook-turned-entrepreneur in 1888 to take people between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon on the mainland. The service transformed Hong Kong's way of life more than a century ago and today the Star Ferry is still going strong. In fact, it is one of the most popular attractions for our millions of tourists each year.
Beyond the Star Ferry, Indian people have contributed to, and enhanced our unique city lifestyle in areas from luxury hotels to banking, from IT to trade and logistics and beyond.
So I am delighted that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is staging this Lifestyle Expo in Mumbai. It is a chance for us to showcase great products from Hong Kong that highlight our city's diverse, modern and multi-cultural lifestyle.
Above all, this Expo - jointly organised by Hong Kong and Guangdong - provides a wonderful opportunity for business people from the great city of Mumbai to network and strike up connections that will help to continue the strong tradition of commerce between our communities.
Today, some 1,500 Indian companies operate in Hong Kong. A number of them have their Regional Headquarters or Regional Offices in our city.
They are taking full advantage of our prime location in the heart of East Asia and on the southeast tip of Mainland China.
And they see the advantage of Hong Kong as their gateway to the Chinese Mainland and throughout the region.
At the same time, Hong Kong cherishes its business relationship here in India. Fuelled by a nation of youthful consumers, India is now among the world's largest destinations for retail investment.
India's middle class is expanding rapidly, which brings about strong demand for new and exciting products.
Ladies and gentlemen, on the one hand, the Lifestyle Expo opens up a new door to closer trade ties between us. On the other hand, it continues a long tradition of mutually rewarding business co-operation that I am sure will continue for many years to come.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, October 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:58
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