The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, arrived in Beijing this afternoon (March 4) and began his visit programme.

     Mr Lee and the accompanying officials first called on the Ministry of Finance and met with the Minister of Finance, Mr Lan Fo'an, to exchange views on various issues, including enhancing financial co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre.

     Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Finance for its continued support for the financial policies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. Noting that the Ministry of Finance has issued Renminbi (RMB) sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for 15 consecutive years, Mr Lee said that it clearly demonstrates the sustained support from the country for Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre and a global offshore RMB business hub, and is conducive to promoting the development of Hong Kong's bond market and attracting more international capital.

     Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to encourage local governments on the Mainland to issue offshore RMB bonds and green bonds in Hong Kong, and to utilise Hong Kong's financial system and professional services that are in line with international standards to promote the internationalisation of RMB and the green transition of economies, with a view to promoting high-quality national development.

     Afterwards, Mr Lee attended a ceremony on the signing of co-operation documents by the National Health Commission (NHC), the Health Bureau and the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). He witnessed the signing of two co-operation documents between the HKJC and the NHC, namely the Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Health Commission and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on a National Capacity Building Programme for Human Resources for Health, and the Collaboration Agreement Between the National Health Commission and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on a Scholarship-cum-fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland. He also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Health Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on a Local Programme for Infectious Disease Prevention and Preparedness.

     As announced in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address", the HKJC would provide a funding of $3 billion to support the enhancement of local capacity in surveillance, early warning and prevention and control of emerging communicable diseases; to strengthen the joint disease prevention and control as well as manpower training with the Mainland authorities; and to promote, through a local university, international co-operation in scientific research in areas such as vaccines.

     "The signing ceremony held today marks an important milestone for medical collaboration among the NHC, the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the HKJC. I believe that with concerted efforts, the collaborative projects will greatly contribute to the country and Hong Kong, promoting stronger, more comprehensive, and more consolidated developments in healthcare and the prevention and control of emerging communicable diseases in both places," Mr Lee said.

     Mr Lee added that the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen the two-way training and exchange of healthcare talent between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Stressing the high importance of cross-boundary medical collaboration in the work of the HKSAR Government, Mr Lee said that various initiatives will be taken forward in the future, including the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, participating in and supporting the internationalisation of national hospital accreditation standards, the launch of the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme and so on.

     Mr Lee will attend the opening meeting of the second annual session of the 14th National People's Congress tomorrow (March 5).

Ends/Monday, March 4, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:36

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