Financial Secretary Henry Tang will pay a six-day duty visit to Japan and South Korea from January 28.

Tokyo will be the first stop and Mr Tang will officiate at a reception organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office to celebrate Hong Kong-Japan Year 2005.

He will call on Japan's Minister of Finance Sadakazu Tanigaki and meet Japan Business Federation Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, and other business and finance chiefs. He will speak at a luncheon for policymakers and senior management of the financial services sector.

Heading to Seoul on January 31, Mr Tang will call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Economy Lee Hun-jae, and Minister of Commerce, Industry & Energy Lee Hee-beom.

On February 2, Mr Tang will speak at a breakfast meeting to be hosted by the Seoul Financial Forum, before returning to Hong Kong.