The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, began her visit to Shanghai today (August 22).

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam met with about 60 representatives of Hong Kong organisations and students living there to learn about their everyday lives, work and study after arriving in Shanghai at noon. Mrs Lam told them that the economic development of the country, its opening-up policy and the Belt and Road Initiative have provided more opportunities for Hong Kong people in the Mainland. The HKSAR Government would, through its offices in the Mainland, continue to provide assistance to Hong Kong people in the Mainland, and follow up with relevant central ministries to implement concrete measures to help Hong Kong people study, work and live in the Mainland.

     Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the Shanghai DreamCenter's exhibition hall. The DreamCenter is a large-scale development project featuring a commercial complex; leisure, culture and entertainment facilities; premium food, beverage and retail outlets as well as international performing arts venues. The project also involves the participation of Hong Kong’s business sector and is expected to be completed by the end of next year at the earliest.

     In the evening, Mrs Lam and the other officials attended the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of HKSAR Gala Banquet organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO) of the HKSAR Government. With over 200 participants, the banquet was attended by officials from the eastern part of the Mainland including Shanghai and the four provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shandong, which the SHETO serves, as well as Hong Kong people living in the region.

     Speaking at the banquet, Mrs Lam pointed out that with its close links and frequent contacts with Shanghai and the four provinces, Hong Kong has maintained very close ties and co-operation with them in areas ranging from economic and trade activities to culture, education and youth exchanges.

     "Hong Kong is a service-oriented business hub with a rich pool of professional talents from all over the world as well as an international financial, trading and shipping centre, while Shanghai is the economic, financial, trading and shipping centre in the Mainland. I believe that both places can give full play to their own strengths and complement each other to become the key cities along the Belt and Road. Hong Kong and the four provinces can also leverage on their own advantages in various industries and areas for mutual benefits," she said.

     Mrs Lam will continue her visit tomorrow.

Ends/Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:49

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