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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit in Berlin, Germany, today (May 22, Berlin time). She visited cultural facilities and met with senior officials as well as Members of the Bundestag (the lower house of the German Parliament).
In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the Permanent Secretary of the Senate Department for Economics, Technology and Research of the Berlin Government, Mr Guido Beermann, and discussed the economic development of the two cities as well as the business opportunities for technology start-ups in Hong Kong. Following the meeting, Mrs Lam visited the world-renowned museum cluster in Berlin, the Museum Island, to understand its administration.
Mrs Lam then had a roundtable lunch with a group of Members of the Bundestag. She updated the Members on the latest social, economic and political developments in Hong Kong and discussed with them other matters of mutual interest.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam paid a courtesy call on the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Mr Stefan Kapferer, to promote bilateral ties between Hong Kong and Germany.
She told the State Secretary that Germany is Hong Kong's eighth largest trading partner in the world and the largest trading partner among European Union member states. Hong Kong and Germany enjoy solid bilateral relations, especially in trade and investment. Mrs Lam said that there is already a strong German presence in Hong Kong, whether in financial services, infrastructure projects or consumer products, but other areas of collaboration have been identified in this trip such as environmental technology and arts and culture.
"In addition to strengthening the already close ties, there is also room for collaboration in other aspects, such as environmental protection, technology and culture. I look forward to co-operating closely with Germany in these areas," Mrs Lam said.
The meeting was followed by a visit to the Charité Health Academy to understand the vocational training offered for medical personnel at various levels.
Mrs Lam departed in the evening for Frankfurt, where she will speak at a business luncheon, call on senior officials and visit environmental, cultural and health-care facilities and institutions before returning to Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, May 22, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:05
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