Connected cities: Chief Secretary Henry Tang tries the real-time interactive portals during the final check of Hong Kong's preparation for the Shanghai Expo.

Chief Secretary Henry Tang says the Government will strive to seek permission for the permanent in situ retention of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo to allow more opportunities for Mainlanders to learn about Hong Kong.

Speaking in Shanghai today, Mr Tang said discussions with Mainland authorities on the issue will continue, adding Hong Kong will comply with the Shanghai government's overall development plan for the site.

If the retention proposal cannot be implemented the Government may consider reconstructing the pavilion somewhere in Hong Kong, recycling the materials used as far as possible, he added.

Mr Tang made a final inspection of the pavilion in Pudong and Hong Kong's Urban Best Practices Area Exhibition in Puxi today, ahead of the five-day test runs which start tomorrow.

Saying they are ready for the test runs, Mr Tang said he looks forward to the expo opening when visitors from around the country and the world can experience the connectivity and creativity of Hong Kong at both exhibitions.

"We will participate in the test runs of five days starting from tomorrow, and will see which parts we need to fine tune and improve based on the actual operations. We will ensure the two exhibitions are well prepared and presented in their best shape for the grand opening on May 1.

"I think Hong Kong's participation in the [expo] fully demonstrates our city's characteristics of 'showing grandeur while being compact' - we all know the Hong Kong Pavilion is not very big, but its architecture and exhibition content completely illustrates Hong Kong's splendour as tolerant, open, diversified, progressive and cosmopolitan," he said.