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About 150 representatives of Hong Kong enterprises attended a seminar held in Tianjin today (May 14) to gain a first-hand understanding of the details of the master plan and related policies of, as well as the business and investment opportunities available from, the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ).
The seminar was jointly organised by the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office), the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China, Tianjin.
The Director of the Beijing Office, Ms Gracie Foo; the Deputy Secretary General of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government and Director of the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Mr Liu Jiangang; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China, Tianjin, Mr Michael Yeung, gave speeches at the seminar. The seminar was moderated by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, Mr Wang Shuhua.
Ms Foo said that the seminar aimed to help Hong Kong enterprises to gain a better understanding of the policies and operation of the Tianjin FTZ, thus assisting them in their business planning.
She said, "The establishment of the Tianjin FTZ will enable a wider and more favourable environment for closer co-operation between Hong Kong and Tianjin.
"I believe it will certainly create more room for co-operation in fields in which Hong Kong has clear advantages such as maritime business and logistics, international trade, capital leasing and financial innovations."
During the seminar, officials from five departments and agencies of the Tianjin Municipal Government, namely the Tianjin FTZ Administrative Commission, the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, the Administrative Commission of the Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone of Tianjin, Tianjin Customs and the Tianjin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, and the People's Bank of China Tianjin branch briefed the participants on the various policy areas of the master plan of the Tianjin FTZ and answered their questions.
Hong Kong has been maintaining close bilateral trade relations with Tianjin. Hong Kong has also been the largest foreign investment source in the municipality in recent years.
In addition to the establishment of the Shanghai FTZ, the State Council proposed in December last year the establishment of pilot free trade zones in designated areas of Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian. The Tianjin FTZ was formally launched on April 21 this year.
Ends/Thursday, May 14, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:38
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