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The Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (HKETCO) officially opened in Taipei today (May 15), signifying a new milestone in Hong Kong-Taiwan relations.
Officiating at today's opening reception of the HKETCO, the Financial Secretary and Honorary Chairperson of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC), Mr John C Tsang, said that following the official opening of the HKETCO in Taiwan, exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Taiwan will become even closer on the economic, trade and cultural fronts.
"In the past two years, the ECCPC and the THEC (Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council) had fruitful achievements in various aspects, including the promotion of trade and cultural exchanges, the strengthening of co-operation on financial supervision, the renewal of the air services agreement between the two places and the facilitation of trans-shipment of goods.
"With the efforts of the HKETCO, Hong Kong and Taiwan will continue to make progress in all areas of co-operation, achieving a win-win situation," Mr Tsang said.
To further facilitate the entry of Taiwan visitors to Hong Kong, Mr Tsang announced that a new arrangement would be in place with effect from September 1 this year, allowing Taiwan visitors to make prior entry registration on their own through the Internet free of charge.
Speaking at the opening reception, the Director of the HKETCO, Mr John Leung, said that the office is committed to promoting the long-term development of closer economic and cultural relations between Hong Kong and Taiwan.
"We will promote Hong Kong-Taiwan economic ties in areas such as investments, financial services and business exchanges on one hand, while enhancing exchanges in culture, education, health care, tourism and other fields between the two places on the other. We will also seek to promote the image of Hong Kong," Mr Leung said.
He added that a cultural publication, entitled "Art and Culture@Hong Kong", had just been published to illustrate to the Taiwan community that Hong Kong is not only an international financial and business centre, but also a fascinating cosmopolitan city combining a creative, multicultural population, a rich heritage and a unique blend of East and West.
"Art and Culture@Hong Kong" will be available for free collection at the HKETCO starting from tomorrow (May 16). The office address is 25/F, President International Tower, 11 Songgao Road, Xinyi District, Taipei, and the telephone enquiry number is 886-2-2720-0858. Other distribution outlets will include major bookstores, coffee shops, cafes, museums and art galleries in Taiwan. For details of the distribution outlets, please visit the HKETCO website: www.hketco.hk/tc/culture/hongkong/index.html .
About 200 guests from Hong Kong and Taiwan attended the HKETCO opening reception today, including the Chairperson of the ECCPC, Mr Charles Lee, and the Chairman of the THEC, Mr Lin Chen-kuo. The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and ECCPC Vice-Chairperson, Professor K C Chan; the ECCPC Vice-Chairperson, Mr David Lie; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs and ECCPC Director, Mr Joshua Law; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and ECCPC Director, Mr Raymond Young; and the Under Secretary for Security and ECCPC Director, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, also attended the reception.
Ends/Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:38
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