All Foreign Officials Are Welcome To Visit HK: CE

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said that any government officials from abroad are welcome to visit Hong Kong as he believes such trips are helpful for everyone.

British trade minister Dominic Johnson has been in SAR to strengthen investment ties. Johnson earlier met Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui, as well as chairman of CK Hutchinson Victor Li and the group's co-managing director Canning Fok.

Responding to questions about Johnson's visit, the CE said Hong Kong has always placed great importance on regional and international cooperation.

"It's just that some countries, because of their political interests, make certain moves to jeopardise the relationship," he said.

"We should be pragmatic and promote favourable policies to benefit the economy, as well as the interaction between people of the two places."

The chief executive, meanwhile, will lead a delegation on a three-day trip to Chongqing on Wednesday, during which officials will attend a meeting on cooperation between the two cities.

On his future overseas trips, Lee said: "I will be making plans to visit different places, but of course I also have to work out my priorities... The next destinations I'll be visiting will be Asean countries because they are the closest partners and the economic co-operation will be enhanced through communication, dialogues and interpersonal exchanges."