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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, to the media at the airport before his departure for Taichung City this morning (March 5):
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: This is the second time I am visiting Taiwan. Last year I visited Taipei. This year we are reciprocating the visit to Taichung. We have the invitation from the Mayor of Taichung City. This time we are taking the opportunity to conduct tourism promotion on behalf of Hong Kong. We will be exploring the possibilities of Hong Kong and Taichung co-operating in terms of tourism promotion.
You will also recall that last year, in the Chief Executive's Policy Address, the Hong Kong Government announced that we had the intention to establish a Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation Promotion Council. This Promotion Council is almost ready. Once it is established, the Promotion Council will have as its counterpart the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council to be established by the Taiwanese side. Henceforth, the Promotion Council and its Taiwanese counterpart will provide a platform for the authorities on both sides to conduct discussions and explore possibilities for co-operation in public policy matters and other spheres which are of mutual concern and interest.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, March 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:37
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