Chief Secretary Henry Tang will leave Hong Kong on May 6 for a visit to Belgium, Italy and France.

Mr Tang will arrive in Brussels on May 7 and speak at a gala dinner co-organised by the Belgium-Hong Kong Society and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Brussels. 

He will officiate the Hong Kong Film Festival 2008 opening at Antwerp on May 8, and also call on the European Commission and the Belgian Government senior officials.   

Mr Tang will visit Milan from May 9 to 11. There he will tour the Hong Kong Pavilion at the International Optics, Optometry & Ophthalmology Exhibition.

He will also attend an eyeware parade and a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and meet the Lombardy Regional Government senior officials. 

During his stay in Paris from May 12 to 14, Mr Tang will meet with Ministers of the French Government and the business community. He will visit Musee Guimet and Centre Pompidou, and speak at a business luncheon on May 14.

Mr Tang will return on May 15. During his absence, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam will be the acting Chief Secretary.