SCED to visit United States and United Arab Emirates
6.6.2019

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong on June 9 for duty visits to New York and Washington, DC, in the United States (US) between June 10 and 14 to consolidate and strengthen economic ties between Hong Kong and the US. While there he will meet with US government officials and business and political leaders as well as representatives of think tanks. He will also attend an event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham). After his duty visit to the US, Mr Yau will fly to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to lead a business and professional mission comprising more than 60 members organised by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Ministry of Commerce to explore business collaboration opportunities in the UAE and establish and strengthen networks with local enterprises. Mr Yau will start the US leg of his visit in New York on June 10 (Eastern Standard Time), where he will meet key people in the financial, business, legal and academic sectors at a roundtable breakfast meeting before proceeding to Washington, DC, in the afternoon for a four-day visit. He will be accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Miss Eliza Lee. In addition to meeting with US government officials, congressional members, representatives of the Heritage Foundation and business leaders to exchange views on forging closer Hong Kong-US trade and economic relations, Mr Yau will deliver a keynote address at a luncheon jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington DC (Washington ETO) and the Brookings Institution. Mr Yau's visit will also include receptions hosted by Washington ETO and AmCham. AmCham is currently running its annual Doorknock event in Washington, DC. This year AmCham is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. On June 16 and 17, Mr Yau will lead the mission to the UAE. The mission comprises over 60 business leaders and services professionals from the finance, consultancy, architecture, construction and infrastructure development, legal and dispute resolution, accounting, transportation and logistics and technology services sectors, as well as start-ups in the Mainland of China and Hong Kong. Prior to travelling to the UAE, the mission delegates will visit Spain and Serbia between June 9 and 15. Mr Yau and the mission delegates will meet with senior UAE government officials and visit the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone and Khalifa Port. They will also attend a briefing on investment opportunities in the UAE jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Dubai FDI, and mission delegates will have a dedicated business matching opportunity with local project owners. Later, Mr Yau will deliver remarks at a networking luncheon co-organised by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong and the Mainland China - Hong Kong Belt and Road Business and Professional Services Council. Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on June 18. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.