| Response to announcement on establishment of the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council |
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In response to media enquiries, a Government spokesman today (April 2) made the following response to the announcement on the establishment of the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (ECCC) made by the Taiwanese side - "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) welcomes the Taiwanese side's announcement that the ECCC will soon be established as the counterpart of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC), so as to open up a new communication platform. With the establishment of the new platform, we believe that Hong Kong can have multi-faceted and multi-level exchanges with Taiwan, and that our liaison and co-operation in the various areas will be strengthened. The HKSAR Government also welcomes the establishment of an Economic Co-operation Committee and a Cultural Co-operation Committee under the ECCC to foster exchanges on trade, investment, tourism and culture between Hong Kong and Taiwan. We hope that the ECCPC and the ECCC can hold their first joint meeting in the coming months. Hong Kong and Taiwanese officials can then exchange views on issues of mutual concern in appropriate capacities under this umbrella, and both sides can look into public policy related areas where co-operation could be strengthened, so as to further promote high-level exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan. We are aware that the Taiwanese side will appoint Mr Yang Jia Jiunn, the Managing Director of the Chung Hwa Travel Service (CHTS), as a Director of the ECCC. Since the Handover, the CHTS and other Taiwan organisations in Hong Kong continue their operation under the Qian Seven Principles.With the establishment of the ECCPC and the ECCC, we believe that there will be more frequent interactions between Hong Kong and Taiwan on the economic and cultural aspects and that the depth of our work will continue to broaden. We expect the CHTS and other Taiwan organisations in Hong Kong will continue to reinforce their work." Ends/Friday, April 2, 2010 |