KC Chan to visit Europe

June 05, 2011

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Prof KC Chan will begin a week-long visit to Europe tomorrow to boost ties and promote Hong Kong as China's global financial centre.
 
He will meet senior government financial officials, representatives of financial regulators, the banking sector and chambers of commerce to brief them on the huge potential that Hong Kong offers for the asset-management business and the opportunities brought about by the renminbi's gradual internationalisation.
 
In Prague, Prof Chan will sign a comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with the Czech Republic on behalf of the Hong Kong Government on June 6. 
 
He will also meet the Czech Minister of Finance Miroslav Kalousek, Czech National Bank Governor Miroslav Singer, and Ceská Sporitelna Deputy CEO Daniel Heler.
 
On day two of his visit, Prof Chan will visit the Prague Stock Exchange and give a speech at a business luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Berlin before departing for Belgium.
 
In Brussels on June 8, Prof Chan will meet with National Bank of Belgium Governor Luc Coene. He will attend a business luncheon co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Brussels and the Belgium Hong Kong Society before meeting Financial Services & Market Authority Chairman Jean-Paul Servais.
 
The next morning, Prof Chan will leave for London, where he will call on Financial Services Authority Chairman Lord Turner and Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Sassoon.
 
On June 10, he will meet the Chairman of European Banking Authority Chairman Andrea Enria, and Bank of England Deputy Governor (Financial Stability) Paul Tucker. He will also meet with members of the Hong Kong Association Committee and the Hong Kong Society.
 
Prof Chan will return to Hong Kong on June 11.