SCED to visit Netherlands and France
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     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (June 6) for duty visits to Schiphol and The Hague in the Netherlands and Paris, France, from June 6 to 8. During his visits, Mr So will meet with the local business community in Schiphol to strengthen Hong Kong's commerce and economic ties with the Netherlands. He will also attend the Trade and Investment Session of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) in Paris.

     Mr So will first meet with Dutch businessmen in Schiphol, the Netherlands, on June 6 (Schiphol time). He will then move on to The Hague to call on the Mayor of The Hague and the Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands.

     Mr So will proceed to Paris, France, on June 7 (Paris time) to attend a ministerial dinner hosted by Denmark, the Chair of the 2017 OECD MCM, and the OECD MCM's Trade and Investment Session entitled "International Trade and Investment for the Benefit of All" on June 8. He will join the participating ministers to discuss the importance of open markets and how the international rules on trade and investment can promote global economic growth and productivity.

     On the margins of the OECD MCM, Mr So will attend the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Ministerial Gathering. The meeting will discuss the role for the WTO in advancing trade and global growth, and the possible deliverables to be obtained at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Argentina at the end of this year. He will also take the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with the Dutch counterparts.

     Mr So will return to Hong Kong on June 9. During Mr So's absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Godfrey Leung, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

Ends/Monday, June 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 9:00

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