Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services & Treasury Frederick Ma started his week-long promotion of post-SARS Hong Kong in Europe, a government press office said Tuesday.
As part of the economic relaunch program, Ma's visit aims to revitalize Hong Kong's economy, it said.
On Monday local time in London, his first stop, Ma met with a group of leading investors and fund managers and 200 guests who attended a cultural performance by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and briefed them about the latest developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
He said Hong Kong is now well on the way back to economic recovery following an extremely challenging time due to the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
"Hong Kong has risen to this challenge and emerged from the crisis even stronger than before, with a rejuvenated spirit of care and concern among members of the community," the official said.
He encouraged European friends to visit Hong Kong, a place which is "absolutely safe to visit and to do business."
Earlier in the day, Ma met with, among others, Shadow Chief Secretary for the Treasury Howard Flight and the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons of the UK government.
He will be meeting prominent business executives with strong ties to Hong Kong, leading figures in the banking sector and the Financial Services Authority in London Wednesday before flying to Frankfurt.
(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2003)
