Financial Secretary John Tsang will lead a high-level mission to Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic next week to promote business opportunities in Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang said it is important for the Government to help local enterprises develop economic relations with emerging markets.

He will explain to investors the advantages of Hong Kong's position in the region and the benefits of using Hong Kong as a platform for doing business in and with the Mainland.

Itinerary details

Mr Tsang will be accompanied by an 18-member business delegation to the three nations' capitals Ljubljana, Vienna and Prague.

He will depart Hong Kong May 24 and meet Bank of Slovenia Governor Dr Marko Kranjec, Slovenia's Minister of the Economy Andrej Vizjak and Minister of Finance Dr Andrej Bajuk on May 26.

After delivering his keynote speech at an executive business lunch, Mr Tsang will hold a session with Slovenian media.

On May 27 he will go to Vienna to meet Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Finance Wilhelm Molterer, address an executive business lunch, speak to Austrian media and meet Minister of Economics & Labour Dr Martin Bratenstein.

On May 28 he will brief Austrian media before meeting Austrian National Bank Governor Dr Klaus Liebscher, and addressing a business lunch hosted by the bank's Chief Executive Officer Dr Erich Hampel.

He will arrive in Prague May 29 and give a keynote speech to a select business audience, and meet Minister of Finance Miroslav Kalousek and Czech National Bank Governor Zdenek Tuma. He will also visit the Prague Stock Exchange.