The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, in Shanghai today (June 7) promoted stronger co-operation between Hong Kong and the city.
 
     This morning, he visited Innospace+ and the companies operating there to learn more about the ecosystem in Shanghai for start-ups. Innospace+ is an entrepreneurship community and incubating platform providing support to companies in areas such as financing, manpower resources, training and exchange, as well as marketing. There are currently several hundred companies, start-ups and research and development centres of multinational corporations operating in Innospace+.
  
     Mr Chan then attended lunch with Member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Head of the United Front Work Department of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Mr Zheng Gangmiao. Mr Chan also met with the Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Mr Xu Kunlin. Mr Chan updated them on the latest economic developments of Hong Kong, and expressed his gratitude to the Government of Shanghai for its staunch support over the years for the work of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
  
     This afternoon, Mr Chan addressed the 9th Shanghai-Hong Kong Metropolitan Development Seminar. He pointed out that Shanghai is the core of the world-class city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta area, and also an international centre of economic affairs, finance, trade, shipping and scientific and technologic innovation as well as a cultural metropolis. On the other hand, Hong Kong will continue to strive to leverage its unique advantages as an international financial, transportation and trade centre, and strengthen Hong Kong’s offshore Renminbi business and professional services. Hong Kong is committed to boosting economic development through innovation and technology. Mr Chan said that he looks forward to closer co-operation between both cities on various fronts, and to seeing Hong Kong and Shanghai contribute together to the sustained development of the nation.
 
     Organised by the Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association and the Shanghai Chinese Overseas Friendship Association, the seminar was held as a high-level platform for exploring co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai on different fronts.
 
     Upon his arrival in Shanghai yesterday afternoon (June 6), Mr Chan visited Shanghai Disney Resort and was briefed by the senior management on the latest developments and daily operation of the Resort. He also attended a dinner hosted by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority for members of the cultural sectors of the two places.
 
     After concluding his visit to Shanghai today, Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong at night.

Ends/Thursday, June 7, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:00

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