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The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, said today (May 31, Sydney time) that his ten-day visit to New Zealand and Australia had provided an excellent opportunity for him to discuss with a wide range of business and political leaders the role of Hong Kong as an ideal two-way business platform for companies which are interested in doing business with the Mainland of China.
On the third and final day of his visit to Sydney, Mr Tang met the Premier Morris Iemma and other senior leaders of the New South Wales Government. He also attended a lunch reception with the Chinese community there.
Throughout his visit to New Zealand and Australia, Hong Kong﷿s role as a gateway to Mainland China for businesses in the region was a dominating subject for discussion in Mr Tang﷿s meetings with senior government officials, business leaders and policy think tanks including Asia New Zealand Foundation, Institute of Public Affairs, Asia Society AustralAsia Centre, Asialink and Lowy Institute for International Policy.
Other issues discussed included Hong Kong﷿s strong economic recovery, its role as an international financial centre, environmental issues and avian flu contingency plans.
䩕The people here are amazed by the strong and rapid economic growth in the Mainland of China,蒅 Mr Tang said.
䩕They are very much interested in Hong Kong﷿s future role as a two-way platform, serving both as a launching pad for their investment into the Mainland and a facilitator of Mainland investment in their home countries.
䩕I believe I have completed my mission in New Zealand and Australia. I met many senior business and government leaders, important think tanks and policy research institutes as well as influential local media during my visit.
䩕I can see there are lots of excitement in Hong Kong﷿s strong economic recovery and our continuous success in serving as the service centre for businesses in the Mainland, in particular in the Pan-Pearl River Delta. I﷿m sure it will lead to further flows of people, merchandises and capital between Hong Kong and Australasia.蒅
During a ten-day visit, which took in Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, Mr Tang urged New Zealand and Australian businesses to leverage on Hong Kong﷿s strengths in financial services, value-added logistics and professional services to develop business opportunities in Asia, particularly China.
In Wellington, the Financial Secretary explained Hong Kong﷿s advantages and unique role as a two-way business platform for doing business with the Mainland to Prime Minister Helen Clark, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen, Minister for Economic Development Trevor Mallard and Minister of State Jim Sutton of the New Zealand Government.
In Canberra, Mr Tang discussed Hong Kong﷿s strong economic recovery and possible economic co-operation with Australia with Treasurer Peter Costello, Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock of the Australian Federal Government.
Mr Tang also took the opportunity of this duty trip to promote Hong Kong as a premier destination for visitors in Asia and the world. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was invited to perform at public events hosted in the Financial Secretary﷿s honour in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney. Mr Tang gave welcome remarks at a concert by the orchestra in Sydney yesterday (May 30, Sydney time) evening.
While he was in Sydney, Mr Tang also officiated at a cocktail party organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to launch 2006 Hong Kong Shopping Festival and introduce the Mid-Autumn Lantern Celebration to the Australian travel trade.
Mr Tang flies out of Australia this afternoon (Sydney time) and is due to arrive in Hong Kong late tonight (Hong Kong time).
Ends/Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:36
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