FS to lead business delegation to Middle East
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     The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, will lead a business delegation to the Middle East tomorrow (December 6) for a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from December 7 to 11 to explore emerging business opportunities in the Middle East market and to showcase Hong Kong's Islamic finance platform to Islamic economies.

     Mr Tsang will make three stops in the Middle East, in Riyadh on December 7 and 8, in Abu Dhabi on December 9 and in Dubai on December 10 and 11. While in Dubai, Mr Tsang will sign an agreement on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with the United Arab Emirates for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

     During their stay in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Financial Secretary and the business delegation will attend a number of trade promotional activities and call on senior government officials and leaders in the business and financial sectors to strengthen trade and investment ties with these two countries and promote Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre and offshore Renminbi business centre.

     Mr Tsang will depart Dubai for Hong Kong on December 12. In his absence, the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, will act as Financial Secretary on December 6 while the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, will act as Financial Secretary from December 7 to the morning of December 12.

Ends/Friday, December 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:20

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