Opportunities for further business development between Hong Kong and Japanese companies were top of the agenda at today's (9 December) 26th annual Hong Kong/Japan Business Cooperation Committee meeting.
In particular, the meetings focused on how Japanese companies could take advantage of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa) to access Chinese mainland markets.
At a lunch hosted by the Chief Executive, Tung Chee Hwa, Mr Tung said, "Hong Kong, after a difficult start to the year, is now well on track to economic recovery and growth, especially in view of the opportunities under Cepa and through its fast-developing web of business relationships with the Pearl River Delta."
Mr Tung also said that mutual respect for each other's cultures would provide an excellent foundation for Hong Kong and Japan to build on. The two regions should make full use of business partnerships to capture unlimited possibilities in the mainland, he added.
Jointly chaired by Dr Raymond Chi'en and Mr Isao Kaneko, the committees promote trade, investment, tourism and partnerships between Hong Kong and Japan.
During the 26th plenary session, the committees exchanged information and views on the Hong Kong and Japanese economies and economic policies and Hong Kong and the PRD. Members were briefed on Cepa by Permanent Secretary for Trade Industry and Technology Denise Yue, Chairman of Wing Tai Corporation Ltd Christopher Cheng and Chairman of Orient Overseas International Ltd, CC Tung.
"Both Hong Kong and Japan have experienced a positive recovery in their economies over the past six months, and with Cepa we are seeing more opportunities for our companies to work together," said Dr Chi'en.
The committees will hold their 27th plenary in Japan in 2004. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council serves as the secretariat for the Hong Kong/Japan Business Cooperation Committee and the Keidanren (Federation of Economic Organisations) is the secretariat for the Japan/Hong Kong Business Cooperation Committee.
Japan is Hong Kong's third largest trading partner, with total trade of HK$ 252 billion in the first ten months of 2003.
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Picture shows (from left) TDC Executive Director Michael C C Sze, TDC Chairman Peter Woo, Chairman of Japan-Hong Kong Business Cooperation Committee Chairman Isao Kaneko, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, Chairman of Hong Kong-Japan Business Cooperation Committee Chairman Dr Raymond Chi'en, Consul-General of Japan, Hong Kong, Jun Yokota, and managing Director of Nippon Keidanren Keiichi Nagamatsu.
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Chairman of Hong Kong-Japan Business Cooperation Committee Chairman Dr Raymond Chi'en (left) and Chairman of Japan-Hong Kong Business Cooperation Committee Chairman Isao Kaneko.
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Members of the HK-Japan and Japan-HK Business Cooperation Committees.
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| The 26th Plenary Session of HK-Japan and Japan-HK Business Cooperation Committees |
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