| Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan (with photos) |
|
The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, today (April 8) officiated at the opening ceremony of the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Wuhan (Wuhan ETO), representing that the office is now operating in full swing. The coverage of the Wuhan ETO includes five provinces in the central region of the Mainland, namely Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Jiangxi and Shanxi. Speaking at the launch ceremony of the long-term office of the Wuhan ETO, Mr Leung said the setting up of the office was crucial to improving the network of the Mainland Offices of the HKSAR Government. With the Wuhan ETO coming into operation on April 1 last year, the HKSAR Government has a more comprehensive network in the Mainland, with the Shanghai ETO in the east, the Guangdong ETO in the south, the Chengdu ETO in the west, the Beijing Office in the north and the Wuhan ETO in the central region. The central region enjoys a strategic location connecting the eastern and western regions. The five provinces under the coverage of the Wuhan ETO have a total population of about 300 million, accounting for over 20 per cent of the national population. Hong Kong has always been in close economic relationship with the central region. At the end of 2013, Hong Kong has set up over 32,000 Hong Kong enterprises in the five provinces in the central region and invested over US$160 billion. The setting up of the Wuhan ETO is an important step for further enhancing liaison and advancing co-operation between the two places. Mr Leung said that over the years Hong Kong and the Mainland had been working together to achieve mutual benefits. Hong Kong has been playing a special role during the country's reform and opening-up as well as modernisation, and Hong Kong has been benefitting from it. Hong Kong will continue to give full play to the strengths of our professional services, facilitating the Mainland provinces/regions to upgrade their industry structure, contributing to the long-term development of the central region in the future. The Director of the Wuhan ETO, Miss Sara Tse said, with the opening of the long-term office, the Wuhan ETO would be able to push forward various initiatives more effectively. She and her team would spare no effort in promoting exchange and co-operation between Hong Kong and the central region, providing information and assistance to Hong Kong people and enterprises doing business, working or living there, facilitating them to better capitalise on the opportunities brought about by the development of the Mainland. Other officiating guests present at the launch ceremony of the long-term office of the Wuhan ETO included Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo; Governor of Hubei Province, Mr Wang Guosheng; and Mayor of Wuhan City, Mr Wan Yong. Other officiating guests present at the dinner reception included Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo; Vice Governor of Hubei Province, Mr Gan Rongkun; Vice Governor of Shanxi Province, Mr Wang Yixin; Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Ms Xie Ru; Vice Governor of Henan Province, Mr Zhao Jiancai; Vice Governor of Hunan Province, Mr He Baoxiang; Vice Mayor of Wuhan City, Mr Shao Weimin; and Deputy Director-General of Department of Economic Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhang Xialing. The Wuhan ETO commenced operation on April 1 last year, relocated to its long-term office on March 23 this year, and held its opening ceremony today. The Wuhan ETO can be contacted through the following channels:
Address : Unit 4303, Tower I, Ends/Wednesday, April 8, 2015
CE officiates at launch ceremony of WHETO Mr Leung (sixth right) and other guests at the plaque unveiling ceremony.
CE attends dinner reception to commemorate opening of WHETO (1) The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, speaks at the dinner reception to commemorate the opening of the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Wuhan this evening (April 8).
CE attends dinner reception to commemorate opening of WHETO (2) Mr Leung (seventh left) and other officiating guests propose a toast. |
