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At the Chinese New reception held in Berlin, Germany, today (January 23, Berlin time), Mr Stephen Wong, Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs, Berlin, said, ¡°the Year of the Ox marks a new beginning¡± because a new Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office will start operating in Berlin in 2009. The new office ¡°will strengthen the ties with Germany, as well as other seven countries in the region namely Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.¡± Mr Wong said.
¡°This is the first overseas representative office set up after Hong Kong¡¯s reunification with China. This is also a historic moment that signifies strengthened bilateral trade ties and cooperation between Germany and Hong Kong¡±, he added.
In his welcome remarks, he highlighted that Germany is the largest trading partner in the European Union with Hong Kong. Being ranked as the freest economy in the world by the Heritage Foundation consecutively for 15 years, Hong Kong is the ideal choice for German companies to set up or expand their business. ¡°We will assist you in establishing connections and strengthening ties with Hong Kong by providing information, support and practical assistance¡±, Mr Wong said.
Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Miss Mary Chow, attended the reception and presented a souvenir to Miss Colleen Lee, a young pianist from Hong Kong, who staged a piano recital before the reception which was attended by more than 250 guests.
The reception initiated a series of Chinese New Year receptions organized by the HKETO. In January and February, similar receptions will be held in other major cities in central Europe: Hamburg (January 29), Vienna (February 3), Frankfurt (February 9), Prague (February 11), Bratislava (February 13), Ljubljana (February 17), Budapest (February 19) and Warsaw (February 24).
Ends/Saturday, January 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 02:00
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