The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (September 22) for duty visits to Washington, DC, in the United States (US) and Ottawa and Montreal in Canada from September 23 to 29 to consolidate and strengthen economic ties between Hong Kong and the two countries. Mr Yau will also officiate at an event to celebrate the inaugural direct flight between Hong Kong and Washington, DC.
During his stay in Washington, DC, between September 23 and 26 (Eastern Standard Time), Mr Yau will meet with senior government officials, congressional members, think tanks and leaders of chambers or business organisations to exchange views on Hong Kong-US trade and economic relations and update them on the latest economic developments in Hong Kong. He will pay a courtesy call to the Chinese Embassy in the United States of America.
On September 25, Mr Yau will officiate at a gala reception and dinner hosted by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited to mark its inaugural direct flight between Hong Kong and Washington, DC. He will also witness the signing of the Statement of Intent on Smart Technology Collaboration by the US Department of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
On September 26, he will deliver a keynote speech at a seminar entitled "The United States, Hong Kong & China: Innovation Economies in the 21st Century" co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington, DC (Washington ETO) and the Atlantic Council. He will also address a business luncheon co-organised by the Washington ETO and Cathay Pacific, and supported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Invest Hong Kong and the US Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Yau will then proceed to Canada in the evening on September 26. On the following day in Ottawa, he will call on senior government officials and Canadian Parliament members to discuss issues relating to trade and economic co-operation between Hong Kong and Canada. He will also meet with key members of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association Ottawa. In Montreal, he will meet with senior government officials responsible for trade matters.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on September 29 (Hong Kong time). During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
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