Chief Executive Donald Tsang agreed with the Scottish government to strengthen collaboration in a number of areas, on the last full day of his visit to Europe in Edinburgh yesterday.
Mr Tsang and the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond agreed in a bilateral meeting the exchange of people, experience, information, ideas and practices will lead to increased understanding and friendship.
Both sides agreed to continue to work together to strengthen collaboration in areas including trade and investment, education, culture and sport. Click
here for details of the meeting outcomes.
After the meeting, Mr Tsang addressed a reception hosted by Mr Salmond in the Chief Executive’s honour.
“Scotland, with its rich heritage and proven track record for bright ideas, is an ideal partner for Hong Kong. In parallel, Hong Kong provides a dynamic business-friendly environment right in the heart of Asia for Scottish businesses to fulfil their potential. I am confident the future for our bilateral relations remains extremely bright.”
The Chief Executive started the day by meeting Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning Michael Russell and members of the Scottish education sector at a working breakfast.
Mr Tsang encouraged Scottish students to study in Hong Kong and take advantage of the city’s relaxed immigration and employment restrictions for overseas students. He also sought the support of the Scottish government for Hong Kong’s new senior secondary school curriculum and exchanged views on strengthening collaboration in curriculum development.
He then met the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment & Sustainable Growth John Swinney before attending the Hong Kong: China’s Global Financial Centre seminar organised by Invest Hong Kong, Scottish Development International and Scottish Financial Enterprise.
In his address at the seminar, Mr Tsang highlighted Hong Kong’s strengths as both a global financial centre and as China’s most important city for international finance.
“As China’s global financial centre, the internationalisation of the renminbi is a vitally important area for Hong Kong. Under One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong will be the main testing ground for the wider international use of the renminbi.”
Mr Tsang said Hong Kong will use its special status as China’s offshore renminbi centre to play a greater role in the international financial community.
The seminar was followed by a visit to the Biofuel Research Centre of Edinburgh Napier University, where the Mr Tsang was briefed on the development of renewable and sustainable biofuels.
At noon, he addressed a luncheon with the business community co-hosted by Scottish Development International and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in London.
Noting Hong Kong continued to evolve as the premier international gateway to China since its reunification with the Mainland, Mr Tsang said the city is ready to provide overseas firms their best chance of success in China and the wider Asian region.
“We welcome more Scottish companies to come to Hong Kong and to enjoy the benefits of being based in a major city in China, but a city with its own distinct systems and way of life,” he said.
He then visited the Roslin Institute, where he was briefed on the development of regenerative medicine and stem-cell research.
Mr Tsang will leave Edinburgh for Hong Kong today.
