Talking trade: Chief Executive Donald Tsang speaks at the Hong Kong - Liaoning Business Co-operation Symposium.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang says there is ample room for Liaoning and Hong Kong's service industries to work together.

Speaking at a networking reception and lunch in Liaoning today, Mr Tsang said Liaoning is in a good position.

"With its strengths in traditional heavy and equipment manufacturing industries, and newly developed industries such as information technology and software outsourcing, there would be ample room for Liaoning and Hong Kong's service industries to work together."

Addressing the Hong Kong - Liaoning Business Co-operation Symposium this morning, he said by the end of 2007, Hong Kong had invested in more than 9,600 projects in Liaoning, with a total investment that ranked first among investors in the province. Liaoning was also the preferred choice among the three northeast provinces for Hong Kong investors.

Last year Liaoning had invested US$148 million in 27 projects in Hong Kong. Seven Liaoning enterprises had listed in Hong Kong, he added.

Opportunities explored

In the afternoon, Mr Tsang and the Hong Kong business delegation visited Neusoft Group where they learned about the research and development standards of medical equipment in the Mainland.

They also explored how Hong Kong companies could co-operate with their Mainland counterparts to develop new products and reach out to the international market.

This was followed by a visit to Shenyang Wu Ai Market, one of the largest trading and wholesale markets in the region, and Zhongxing-Shenyang Commercial City. The delegates were briefed on the Shenyang Finance & Trade Development Zone's development plan on a tour there.

In the evening, the Chief Executive and the delegation attended a welcome dinner hosted by the Shenyang Municipal Government.