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Roundup: Hong Kong's Senior Official Ends Visit to New Zealand
The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Anson Chan, concluded her visit to New Zealand and left the country for the Republic of Korea on the evening of November 10.
During her 5-day stay in New Zealand, Anson Chan called on New Zealand Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys and had a friendly conversation with him.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark also met with the senior Hong Kong official. During the meeting, the prime minister noted Hong Kong's economic recovery and developments in other areas, and the two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual concern and on enhancing links between New Zealand and Hong Kong.
After the meeting, Anson Chan told reporters, "I think, like the prime minister, we would like to see better progress with the next round of multilateral trade negotiations."
"In the meantime, we have agreed to have exploratory talks on the possible parameters of a free trade agreement with New Zealand," she said, adding "But we remain, as the prime minister has pointed out, very committed to the multilateral trading system and we do hope that progress will be made on that front."
Anson Chan also had a series of meetings with New Zealand ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff, Minister for Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton, and Minister of Immigration Lianne Dalziel. She also had a meeting with the leader of the Opposition, Jenny Shipley.
During these meetings, the senior Hong Kong official and New Zealand ministers discussed a wide range of matters, including a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme for young people of the two places. All these discussions would benefit strengthening ties between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
The main purpose of Anson Chan's trip was to promote Hong Kong in New Zealand. She took part in a number of gatherings of local business people and briefed them about recent developments in Hong Kong. "The reversion of sovereignty over Hong Kong was a seamless and successful exercise. We have encountered a few bumps over the past three-and-a-half years as we set about implementing 'One Country, Two Systems' within the framework of our constitutional document, the Basic Law," she stated.
Anson Chan praised China's central government for "scrupulously honoring its commitments to allow Hong Kong people to run Hong Kong with the high degree of autonomy."
After leaving New Zealand business people with a thumb-print of how Hong Kong has moved ahead successfully since 1997, she told them the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue the positive momentum in the future.
The chief secretary encouraged New Zealand business people to invest in Hong Kong and make new efforts to promote New Zealand's relations with Hong Kong in various fields, including the fields of economy and trade, environment, technology, and education.
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Chen Wenzhao gave a dinner in Wellington in honor of Anson Chan and her party.
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