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HK, Britain Are Major Trade Partners: British Minister
Hong Kong and Britain are major trade and investment partners, with the two-way trade totaling 100 billion HK dollars (US$12.82 billion) last year, a senior British official said here Wednesday.
Britain's Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office John Battle said in a lecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong that Britain and Hong Kong mean very much to each other in terms of trade and investment.
"Hong Kong business uses Britain as its gateway into Europe just as British companies use Hong Kong as base from which to do business in the Chinese mainland and the region more widely," he said.
In addition to business partnership, Battle said Britain and Hong Kong also have cooperation in many other areas, such as the close educational and academic links.
More than 9,000 Hong Kong students are studying in universities and colleges in Britain, and the exchanges of young students are certain to grow in the coming years, he said.
The minister, who is also responsible for environmental issues, highlighted Britain's cooperation in environment with Hong Kong and more widely, with the Chinese mainland.
Battle praised the Hong Kong Special Administrative government for its commitment to improve the quality of the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Britain and Hong Kong have much contact on practical environmental projects and Britain is regularly delivering experts to take part in environmental conferences in Hong Kong, Battle said.
Together with the authorities in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Britain are actively engaged in addressing environmental problems around the Pearl River Delta, he added.
On the mainland's environmental issues, Battle said the Chinese government has recognized that the environmental problems exist and should be tackled, and "this is a welcome recognition."
The minister believed China has already made progress in cleaning up air pollution in some major cities and in looking at innovative options to use renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.
Battle suggested good environmental policies be placed at the heart of China's plans to develop the western areas. "Foreign investors have their part to play in this," he added.
Battle has just concluded a three-day visit to Hong Kong on Wednesday. This is also his third official visit to the SAR.
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