Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang set off on Saturday for a visit in Vancouver, Washington DC and New York, according to the Hong Kong Information Service Department.

During his visit, Tsang will brief political and business leaders of the above places on Hong Kong's economic, political and social developments.

Tsang will co-host the Hong Kong-Guangdong Business Forum in Canada 2005 on Oct. 24 with Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua, before he meets prominent businessmen in New York on Oct. 25.

On Oct. 25-29, Tsang will meet with US government officials, Congress members, think tanks and business leaders in Washington DC.

Tsang will return to Hong Kong on Oct. 30 and head to London on Nov. 1 to meet senior government officials, Parliament members, business and financial leaders, people in think tanks and academia.

He will deliver a keynote speech at the opening of a three-day conference on Hong Kong and speak at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council annual dinner, launching the Hong Kong Tourism Board's Discover Hong Kong 2006 promotion in Britain. His visit in Britain will finish on Nov. 5.

While Tsang is away from Hong Kong, Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui will be the acting chief executive.

Source: Xinhua