FS to continue visit in Europe
The Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, will fly to Europe later today (Saturday) to embark on the second leg of his whirling overseas tour after concluding his visit in the United States over the past week.
Mr Tsang will sign two Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements and one Air Services Agreement with four countries before returning to Hong Kong. During his stay, he will also take this opportunity to call on senior government officials and meet bankers to strengthen partnership.
In Brussels, he will sign an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Belgium and Luxembourg at Palais d'Egmont on Monday (October 7). A separate ceremony will also take place in the evening in Luxembourg to mark the event.
Before the signing, Mr Tsang will address a luncheon meeting hosted by the Belgium Hong Kong Society and will call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Belgium, Mr Philippe Maystadt, and incoming Secretary of the National Bank of Belgium, Dr Marcia de Wachter. He will attend a dinner hosted by Minister of Budget of Luxembourg, Mr Marc Fischbach in the evening.
Mr Tsang will call on the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker and have lunch with Board of Luxembourg Bankers' Association before his departure for Rome on October 8.
In Rome Mr Tsang will call on Foreign Minister of Italy, Mr Lamberto Dini and host a lunch for Italian Bankers.
Later on that day, he will sign the Hong Kong/Italy Air Services Agreement at a ceremony to be held at the Italian Ministry of Transport.
During his stay, he will also call on the Minister of Treasury, Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and the Deputy Director General of Bank of Italy, Dr Pierluigi Ciocca.
Then he will travel to Vienna where he will sign an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with the State Secretary of Austria, Mrs Benita Ferrero- Waldner. He will also meet with the President of Austrian National Bank, Dr Klaus Liebscher, and attend a dinner hosted by Austrian Hong Kong Association and Bank of Austria.