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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, continued his visit to three ASEAN countries today (October 30). He met with senior officials and business leaders in Cambodia and Singapore. He also delivered a welcome speech at the gala dinner celebrating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the Lion City.
During a meeting with the China, Hong Kong & Macau Expatriate & Business Association of Cambodia this morning, members told Mr So the development of various industries in Cambodia. The members are from a diversified scope of industries including garment, textile, design and accounting services.
Mr So also met with the Senior Minister and the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Dr Cham Prasidh, to exchange views on the roles of Hong Kong and Cambodia in international trade and business, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Upon his arrival in Singapore, Mr So met with the Chief Executive Officer of International Enterprise Singapore, Mr Teo Eng Cheong. They shared experience on promoting trade developments in the region.
In the evening, Mr So delivered a welcome address to more than 400 guests at the Hong Kong Festival 2012: Gala Dinner in Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR.
Mr So remarked that it was appropriate to share the joy of the HKSAR's 15th anniversary with friends in Singapore, as people of the two places shared competitive spirit to work smarter, to innovate further and to live and work in a great place they call home. Hong Kong and Singapore also thrived on a diversity of ideas, good governance and international perspective, he said.
"After 15 years as a Special Administrative Region, there remains in Hong Kong an unshakable commitment to the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems'. This principle brings remarkable growth in bilateral trade with the Mainland, and helps preserve Hong Kong's advantages as well as personal and economic freedoms," Mr So added.
Mr So also noted that while Hong Kong's close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Mainland had undoubtedly driven the city's development as a Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong also had its international partners, including Singapore, to thank for their continued confidence in the city.
Hong Kong's bilateral trade with Singapore has increased almost three-fold over the past 15 years, rising from $117 billion in 1997 to over $310 billion last year.
Mr So expected that Hong Kong and Singapore would continue to lead the way for the region's growth and development.
Tomorrow (October 31), Mr So will speak at the ASEAN - Hong Kong Business Forum on global and regional supply chains, with a focus on the complementary roles of Hong Kong and Singapore. The forum is another event of the Hong Kong Festival 2012 organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore with its partners to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the HKSAR.
Ends/Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:52
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