Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Joseph Wong will leave Hong Kong tonight for a visit to Helsinki and Paris.

Mr Wong will meet the Minister of Trade & Industry and the Minister of Communications of Finland. He will also visit several telecommunications and technology businesses and meet representatives from the innovation and research and development sectors there.

Mr Wong will then fly to Paris on May 15 to attend the trade session of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's annual Ministerial Council meeting. Delegates at the session will discuss policy issues, including the future challenges for an open global trading system.

In Paris, Mr Wong will attend an informal meeting of trade ministers for developed and developing economies, including Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico and the United States, to discuss how to advance the Doha Round Negotiations towards a successful conclusion.

Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on May 17.