HKPC Co-organizes Forum in Changsha to Promote Financing Opportunities and Services of Hong Kong

More than 350 representatives from Mainland enterprises today (26 September 2006) attended the '2006 Summit Forum on International Financing' jointly organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong Association for the Promotion of Technology Enterprise (HK) Ltd in Changsha, Hunan province.

Aiming to provide Mainland enterprises from the six central provinces with the latest information on financing opportunities and related services in Hong Kong, the event was held concurrently with the inaugural 'Expo Central China 2006' organized by the Central Government. The participants mainly came from Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei and Hunan provinces.

The opening ceremony of the Forum was officiated by Mr Guo Kailang, Assistant to Chief Vice Governor of the People's Government of Hunan Province; Mr Chen Shuhong, Head and Secretary of Party Committee of Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission; Mr Mao Xubao, Director of Hunan Provincial Development of Commerce; Prof Li Jian, CPC Secretary of Central South University and Ex-Deputy Secretary General of The Ministry of Science of Technology of the People's Republic of China; and Mr Weiman Chu, Director (Manufacturing Productivity) of HKPC.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Chu said, "Collaboration between Hong Kong and the central provinces will bring mutual benefits to both economies. To support the economic development of the central regions, Hong Kong can play a unique role in three areas, namely, as a financing centre, a professional services centre as well as a springboard to the international market leveraging on CEPA."

"As a leading financial and trading centre in the Asia Pacific and the Mainland's largest source of overseas direct investment, Hong Kong acts as a conduit of international capitals to finance the growth of Mainland enterprises. Over the past decade, there were 350 Mainland enterprises listed in Hong Kong, with total funds raised exceeding HK$1,200 billion," he said.

"In addition, with a full spectrum of professional services that span from banking and finance, securities, fund-raising, legal, accounting to international business services, Hong Kong can assist Mainland enterprises to foray into the overseas market," he said.

According to Mr Chu, HKPC's CEPA Business Development Centre (CBDC) also strives to promote collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises under CEPA. He said, "CBDC and various professional organizations in Hong Kong have formed the 'CEPA Alliance of Professional Financial Services'. We have jointly launched the CEPA Business Matching Platform to facilitate Hong Kong-Mainland partnership among enterprises, professional services providers and investors in business collaboration and technology commercialization. Through our consultancy service, we also help enhance the fund-raising capabilities of enterprises."

"Last year, the CBDC organized five investment forums in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta regions. Today's Forum is a timely event to further promote collaboration between enterprises from Hong Kong and the Mainland," he added.

Other speakers at the Forum included Prof LV Zheng, Deputy Director of Institute of Economics Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Prof Chen Xiaohong, Dean of School of Business, Central South University; Mr Archie Tsim, Chief Financial Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; as well as Hong Kong's financial services professionals from KPMG; DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Ltd; Tai Fook Securities Group Ltd; Strategic Public Relations Group Ltd, and Baker & McKenzie.

The Forum was co-organized by the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Development and Reform Commission of Hunan Province, the School of Business of Central South University, the Changsha National High Tech Industrial Development Zone, and Hunan High-Tech VENTURE Capital Co Ltd.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications and Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

26 September 2006