The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Economic Development, Panel on Commerce and Industry, Panel on Financial Affairs, and Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting began the joint-Panel duty visit to the major cities in the Yangtze River Delta Region today (April 21) to gain a better understanding of their economic, financial as well as innovation and technology developments. 

     The delegation arrived Shanghai in the afternoon and first visited the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Members received a briefing from the company's representatives on the production and development plan of large passenger aircrafts (C919). Members also visited the final assembly line and cabin of C919.  C919 is the first domestically-built large passenger aircraft in the Mainland and it has completed its test flight.

     The delegation attended a dinner arranged by the Fudan University in the evening. During the dinner, the delegation was briefed by the President of Fudan University, Professor Xu Ningsheng, and the Vice President of Fudan University, Professor Chen Zhimin, on the development of higher education as well as innovation and technology training under STEM (i.e. science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in Shanghai. There are currently over 100 Hong Kong students studying in the Fudan University. Members also took the opportunities to learn about their everyday lives and study. Sixteen higher education institutions from Shanghai and Hong Kong, including the Fudan University, have formed the "Shanghai Hong Kong University Alliance" in November 2018 to strengthen exchange and co-operation from both sides.

     After that, the delegation visited Shanghai Xintiandi, an integrated district where preserves Shanghai's historic buildings for cultural, tourism and commercial use.  Members took the chance to learn more about Shanghai's experience in heritage conservation and revitalization.

     The delegation will continue the visit in Shanghai tomorrow (April 22) and will visit the Zhangjiang Science City, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Changyang Campus and West Bund Xuhui Waterfront.  Members will also meet with representatives of the Shanghai Municipal Government and Hong Kong people living in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Members will take a ferry ride on Huangpu River to understand the tourism development in Shanghai.

     The joint-Panel delegation is led by the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung. Deputy delegation leaders are the Chairman of Panel on Commerce and Industry, Mr Yiu Si-wing; the Chairman of Panel on Financial Affairs, Mr Christopher Cheung; the Chairman of Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Dr Elizabeth Quat; and the Chairman of Panel on Economic Development, Mr Chung Kwok-pan. At the invitation of the joint-Panel delegation, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; and the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, also joined the duty visit.  The delegation visits Shanghai and Hangzhou from April 21 to 24, 2019.

Ends/Sunday, April 21, 2019
Issued at HKT 23:47

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