************************************************************
The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, addressed a networking luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Yangon, Myanmar, today (October 5).
Leading a Hong Kong delegation to promote the development of professional services and business co-operation between Yangon and Hong Kong, Mr Chan said Hong Kong's professional services have gained a foothold in China and overseas and are ready to share their advantages and explore business opportunities with Myanmar.
"Our country recently launched the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative. It is a new model of connectivity that will open up tremendous opportunities for countries and cities along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering a broad spectrum of areas including infrastructure, trade, capital, culture and people.
"This initiative aims to foster friendship and promote peace through mutual development and thus building a community of shared interests. It is open to all countries. Against this backdrop, our visit to Myanmar is very timely. Our focus is to share our experience and expertise in infrastructure development and the services of our professional sector. We have come to promote mutual understanding and explore areas of mutual interest," Mr Chan said.
Mr Chan also introduced to the participants the development and construction works in Hong Kong.
"We are at the peak of our construction activities. Aiming at improving our internal transportation network and connections with the Mainland, we are building four railway projects including a 26-kilometre high-speed rail link with Guangzhou, a 55-km cross-the-sea Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and a new cross-boundary highway called the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai link. In addition, as our airport is approaching its capacity, we are planning to build a three-runway system. We are also working hard to make land available for the development of residential, commercial and community facilities. Our target is to supply 480,000 housing units in the next 10 years, and to create new land for economic activities.
"The total value of our various construction works last year was US$25 billion. Throughout these years, our professionals and contractors have accumulated a lot of experience, expertise and management know-how in taking forward projects of different scales," he said.
The Hong Kong delegation includes government officials; Legislative Council Member and Chairman of the HKTDC Infrastructure Development Advisory Committee Mr Tony Tse; members of the Working Group on Professional Services under the Economic Development Commission; and representatives from the construction, legal, accounting and company secretary sectors.
The delegation will continue the visit in Yangon in the next two days. Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the morning of October 8.
Ends/Monday, October 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:09
NNNN
