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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, began her visit in London, the United Kingdom (UK) on November 12 (London time). She met with Members of the Parliament, business leaders and social entrepreneurs and provided them with an update on Hong Kong's development.
In the morning, Mrs Lam visited UnLtd, a major foundation and provider of funding, capacity development and networking support to social entrepreneurs in the UK. She and the Chief Executive of UnLtd, Mr Cliff Prior, exchanged views on the development of social enterprises and the UK's experience for reference in the launch of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund in Hong Kong. The meeting was followed by a visit to Arrival Education, a social enterprise offering talent development programmes for the underprivileged students and corporate volunteers.
Mrs Lam then spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association. She briefed over 150 guests attending the policy priorities of the Fourth Term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, namely housing, the economy, the environment and poverty alleviation, and the many business opportunities available under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). The mission of the Hong Kong Association, chaired by The Baroness Dunn, is to act as a focus in the UK for the cherishing and promotion of the long-standing and special links between the HKSAR and the UK.
At a meeting with Members of the Parliament (MPs) from the All Party Parliamentary China Group (APPCG), including its Chairman, Mr Richard Graham, and the Chair of the Hong Kong Sub-group under APPCG, Lord Wei, in the afternoon, Mrs Lam took the opportunity to brief MPs on the implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" and the progress achieved on the front of constitutional development, including the increased public participation in the Legislative Council elections in September.
In the evening, Mrs Lam addressed a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Executives Club and briefed about 80 guests present the work of the new term of Government in the past four months.
After the dinner, Mrs Lam travelled to the Lord's Cricket Ground to congratulate the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Cab (Hong Kong) Limited, Ms Doris Leung, on the selection of Diamond Cab as one of the five finalists of the "International Social Enterprise of the Year" at the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2012. Since February 2011, five Diamond Cabs have been accomplishing over 26 000 wheelchair orders and providing barrier-free taxi services to wheelchair users.
The Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Linda Lai, and the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, Mrs Agnes Allcock, accompanied Mrs Lam during the visit.
Mrs Lam will continue her visit in London tomorrow (November 13, London time), meeting senior officials and addressing leaders in the creative community and in the education sector.
Ends/Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 08:22
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