The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Israel in the evening on September 2 to lead a four-day business mission to strengthen business and economic ties between Hong Kong and Israel and seek closer collaboration on the innovation and technology (I&T) front.
The delegation is comprised of more than 30 business leaders representing companies in the fields of financial services, venture capital investment, biotechnology, Fintech and smart city development. Also joining the delegation will be the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, and the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips.
Mr Chan, the other officials and the business delegates will visit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Apart from attending a briefing by the Israeli Government on business opportunities in Israel, they will meet representatives of the local business sector as well as visit local I&T companies and the research and development (R&D) institute of a local university.
Mr Chan will also call on senior officials of the Israeli Government.
While in Tel Aviv, Mr Chan will give a keynote speech at a luncheon jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to promote stronger economic and I&T collaboration between Hong Kong and Israel. He will also speak at the 6th Annual China Business Summit to showcase Hong Kong's unique strengths which make it the ideal platform for enterprises in seizing new opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the morning on September 7 (Hong Kong time). During his absence, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will act as the Financial Secretary.