The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to Sichuan and attended an activity in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the massive Wenchuan earthquake organised by Sichuan Province in Wenchuan today (May 12).

     Leading the delegates of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government of the Sichuan trip, Mrs Lam visited the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu in the morning to learn about various research and development projects on artificial intelligence and robotics, and attended a tea gathering with students and young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong. Noting in the tea gathering that President Xi Jinping announced in Hong Kong on July 1 last year that concrete facilitation measures would be rolled out by relevant central authorities for Hong Kong people to study, work and live in the Mainland, she said those measures are being promulgated, reflecting the support of the Central Government for Hong Kong. She said that HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and has implemented a number of policy initiatives. She added that Hong Kong young people in Sichuan are welcome to come back to Hong Kong to advance the city's I&T development with the Government in the future.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam attended a ceremony in commemoration of the massive Wenchuan earthquake at the former Xuankou Middle School which was torn down by the earthquake, in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County. Participants observed a moment of silence and presented flowers to mourn the victims.

     In the evening, Mrs Lam and the other officials attended a dinner with the Secretary of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee, Mr Fan Ruiping, and the Mayor of Chengdu Municipal Government, Mr Luo Qiang. They exchanged views on strengthening exchanges between the two places in trade, professional services, I&T, entrepreneurship of young people and culture.

     Later, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with the representatives of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China to listen to their experiences and insights gained from working and living in the Mainland. She expressed her gratitude to the Chamber for striving to unite the people and enterprises from Hong Kong in various areas in the Mainland, rolling out support measures and organising activities for them, fostering co-operation in economic and trade between Hong Kong and the Mainland. She also encouraged the Chamber to promote more Hong Kong's various advantages in the Mainland.

     Mrs Lam and the other officials will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (May 13).

Ends/Saturday, May 12, 2018
Issued at HKT 22:56

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