Courtesy call: Financial Secretary Henry Tang meets Japan's Minister of Finance Sadakazu Tanigaki in Tokyo.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang has called on Hong Kong and local organisations in Japan to support Hong Kong-Japan Year 2005 and further advance the friendship between the two partners.

Attending a reception to celebrate this year's programme in Japan today, Mr Tang applauded the country's granting of visa-free access to Hong Kong SAR Passport holders, saying it further strengthens ties, along with the introduction of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

Senior Japanese government officials, including the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarian League Chairman and former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, Minister of State for Economic & Fiscal policy Heizo Takenaka, and Minister of Environment Yuriko Koike, also attended the reception as officiating guests.

The year's activities include:

* a business seminar organised by Hong Kong-Japan Business Co-operation Conference, Joint Hong Kong-Shanghai Business Promotion and a business mission to Hong Kong and the Yangtze River Delta;

* an education mission from Hong Kong to World Expo 2005 in Aichi;

* promotion of Hong Kong Disneyland and Hong Kong sales events in major department stores; and,

* the Hong Kong film festival, Second Hong Kong Sedan Chair Race and a karaoke contest.