Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday left for Hong Kong to woo more investment for the country's economy.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who personally saw the president leave for Hong Kong, said that during the half-day visit, Arroyo would meet business leaders and officials "to show them that things are okay in the Philippines."

"If they feel like coming here, they will know that they are welcome in the Philippines to do business," Ermita said.

Arroyo earlier also said that during her third official visit to Hong Kong, she would rebuild the confidence of Hong Kong investors, which was feared to be shaken by the recent political storms in the Philippines.

The president was accused by opponents of cheating in the 2004 election and some of her family members were charge with pocketing huge illegal gambling payoffs.

Arroyo is also scheduled to meet Tony Kwok, the former head of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption and now the president's anti-corruption adviser, the government said.

The Arroyo's administration is taking Hong Kong's experience as its model to lick graft and corruption in three years.

President Arroyo is set to back to Manila in the evening for the visits of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Gambian President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh to the country.

Source: Xinhua