The Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederick Ma has started his seven-day visit to Beijing, Hangzhou and Hunan to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

It will be Mr Ma's first visit to Beijing since he took up his new post. During his three-day visit to the capital, Mr Ma will meet his counterparts at a number of offices.

Mr Ma will fly to Hangzhou on August 23 to attend a promotional event and press conference by Invest Hong Kong. He will speak on Hong Kong's strategic advantages as the platform for Mainland enterprises to expand regional and global operations.

After attending the event in Hangzhou, Mr Ma will travel to Hunan to join a Hong Kong business delegation for a study tour to Chenzhou. The tour is an effort by the HKSAR government to assist the Hong Kong processing trade in Guangdong relocates their operations.

Mr Ma will return to Hong Kong on August 26.