Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederick Ma has called for closer ties between Hong Kong, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta to boost business opportunities.

Mr Ma made the appeal today when he and a delegation of creative industry representatives joined the Hong Kong Creativeness seminar organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture at the 2007 Shanghai International Creative Industry Week.

"Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as the Yangtze River Delta, all have their distinct advantages and competitive edge. We can co-operate and complement each other to jointly strengthen our development and explore new opportunities," Mr Ma said.

Shanghai sojourn: Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederick Ma visits the Creative HKG pavilion in Shanghai and meets Vice-Mayor Tang Dengjie.
The Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Shanghai has commissioned a consultancy study on the feasibility of Hong Kong-Yangtze River Delta Region co-operation and future collaboration in developing creative industries.   Mr Ma also discussed the West Kowloon Cultural District project being planned in Hong Kong, and he toured the National RFID Industrialisation (Shanghai) Base's showroom and production line to learn about RFID technology development and application.   Mr Ma visited the Shanghai World Expo Co-ordination Bureau and met with its Director Hong Hao.   Mr Ma and Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development (Communications & Technology) Rita Lau also called on Shanghai Vice Mayor Tang Dengjie to share views on the creative industry and economic relations between their two cities.