Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, has announced this week that he would like to see Hong Kong establishing closer ties with the European Union.
At the start of his visit to Europe, at meetings with political and business leaders from the European Union and Belgium on 7th and 8th May, Mr Tang urged more bilateral economic, social and cultural exchanges.
Mr Tang met with leaders from the European Parliament-Hong Kong Friendship Group and the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China, and briefed them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.
They exchanged views on Hong Kong's economic and constitutional development, as well as on preparations for the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events.
Mr Tang said that the European Parliament was pleased to learn that the "One Country, Two System" had been successfully implemented in Hong Kong, as Hong Kong remained as a free and open society under the rule of law, with a high degree of autonomy.
"They also understand that we now have a clear timetable on universal suffrage and that we are discussing the introduction of more democratic elements into the elections in 2012, to pave the way forward for attaining universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive in 2017 and the Legislative Council in 2020,” Tang announced.
At a breakfast meeting with the European Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, the Chief Secretary said that Hong Kong would continue to play an active role in the multilateral trade liberalisation process. He also hoped to see Hong Kong and the European Union continue to strengthen their bilateral trade relationship.
Mr Tang also met with Belgian government officials including Speaker of the House of Representatives, Herman Van Rompey, Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders, and representatives from the Flemish Regional Government, the French-speaking Community and the Walloon Regional Government.
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