The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) held a business luncheon and a reception in Tokyo today (January 23) to promote Hong Kong's business opportunities.
 
     The Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Mr Philip Yung, spoke at both events.
 
     Co-organised with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the business luncheon saw the attendance of some top-level Japanese business leaders.
 
     Speaking at the business luncheon, Mr Yung spelled out the many advantages of Hong Kong, an international business hub with distinctive advantages stemming from the "one country, two systems" arrangement.
 
     Mr Yung noted that the Chief Executive just released the 2017 Policy Address last week, setting out the vision and future direction for Hong Kong's further development, as well as a range of support measures to drive the economy of Hong Kong. 
 
     "The Government continues to fully support the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong, having the means, the expertise and the connections to emerge as the 'super-connector' of the Belt and Road development, would be the best place for Japanese companies to reap the immense opportunities under Belt and Road," Mr Yung said.
 
     He called on Japanese companies to leverage on Hong Kong's advantages to tap the exciting business opportunities in China, Asia and the world.
 
     Mr Yung also took the opportunity to highlight the significance of close relations between Hong Kong and Japan when addressing the reception in the evening. Some 200 senior Japanese government officials, politicians, business executives and key figures in the media and cultural sectors attended the reception.
 
     At present, over 1 300 Japanese companies are doing business in Hong Kong and Japan is Hong Kong's third largest trading partner with the total trade volume amounting to about HK$383 billion in 2015.
 
     Mr Yung said he looked forward to seeing the bilateral ties between the two places grow even stronger.

Ends/Monday, January 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:29

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