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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Wuhan ETO) commenced operation today (April 1). It will strive to promote closer links between Hong Kong and provinces in the central region of the Mainland and strengthen support for Hong Kong people and enterprises in the area. Its geographical coverage includes the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, Jiangxi and Henan.
Speaking on the plans for the office, the Director of the Wuhan ETO, Miss Sara Tse, said, "Further strengthening economic and trade relations, taking forward and facilitating implementation of co-operation projects, supporting Hong Kong people and enterprises in the service area, attracting Mainland enterprises to invest in Hong Kong, promoting Hong Kong and fostering mutual understanding between two places are all our goals. My team will spare no efforts in taking forward our work. We visited Zhengzhou this morning to attend the 8th China Henan International Investment and Trade Fair. Towards mid-April, we plan to call on government officials in Shanxi Province and meet with Hong Kong enterprises in that area."
To assist Hong Kong people and enterprises to better capitalise on the opportunities brought about by the rapid development of the central region, the Chief Executive announced in his 2013 Policy Address the plan to set up a new Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan. To make preparations for the official operation of the office, Miss Tse has called on a number of relevant departments of the provincial governments of Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi, and has met with Hong Kong people in the municipalities of Wuhan and Changsha over the past month or so.
In order to commence service as soon as possible, the Wuhan ETO is initially operating from a business centre. The temporary office is located at Room 1819, 18/F, Building Site A, Wuhan Poly Plaza, 99 Zhongnan Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan (Tel: (86-27) 8711 9119; Fax: (86-27) 8711 9140; Email: enquiry@wheto.gov.hk). The Wuhan ETO is actively pursuing the setting up of a long-term office, and relevant details will be announced in due course.
Ends/Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:38
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