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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, concluded her visit to Europe in Frankfurt, Germany, today (May 23, Frankfurt time). She spoke at a business luncheon, called on senior officials and visited environmental, cultural and health-care facilities and institutions.
Mrs Lam called on the Deputy Mayor and Treasurer of the City of Frankfurt, Mr Uwe Becker, to exchange views on various aspects of city management including arts and culture, waste management and heritage preservation.
Mrs Lam then visited the University Hospital Frankfurt to receive a briefing on vocational training for medical personnel and the operation of a clinic specialising in paediatrics and adolescent medicine in the hospital. Afterwards, Mrs Lam visited the Städel Museum, which has one of Germany's most important and oldest art collections.
At noon, Mrs Lam attended a business luncheon jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and supported by the German Asia-Pacific Business Association. In her keynote address, she mentioned Hong Kong's advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, as well as its latest developments in the four areas of financial services, infrastructure, innovation and technology and creative industries. In particular, she highlighted Hong Kong's role in the internationalisation of renminbi and the opportunities for the financial services companies in Frankfurt, which is also one of the most important financial centres in the world. She expressed the hope that German companies can capitalise on the opportunities in these areas to enhance their presence in Hong Kong. In addition, Mrs Lam also referred to Hong Kong's green resources and efforts in heritage preservation, which help enhance the quality of life of our residents and attract visitors to our city.
"Hong Kong's winning formula lies in her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to facilitate businesses to capitalise on new opportunities quickly and efficiently. It is a formula that breaks down barriers to trade, and welcomes international talent with open arms," said Mrs Lam.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam visited Westhafen, a revitalisation project along a river, as well as the House of Clean Energy, which is a cluster of energy and waste management facilities on a former landfill site in Flörsheim am Main, a small town outside Frankfurt.
Mrs Lam will depart for Hong Kong in the evening.
Ends/Friday, May 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 22:26
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