Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said on Monday that the strong economic and social ties between Chinese Hong Kong and Canada will be instrumental in supporting Canada's initiative to double the level of its trade and investment relationship with China by 2010.

He made the remarks at a dinner on the sideline of a Pearl River Delta promotion activity held in Vancouver of Canada, according to a government press release on Monday.

Tsang said connection has been strengthened between Canada and Chinese Hong Kong during the past five years.

Almost a quarter of a million residents of Hong Kong who are Canadian passport holders and about 1.1 million people -- nearly one-sixth of Hong Kong's population -- have close family links to Canada, and about 8 percent of Hong Kong's population has studied in Canada.

Tsang said Hong Kong is Canada's eighth-largest investor, and the second biggest from Asia. In this way, Hong Kong people have helped fuel the economy of Canada.

He added that at the same time, Hong Kong is now home to the largest Canadian business community in Asia. Over 150 Canadian companies maintain branches or subsidiaries in Hong Kong, and another 450 are represented by distributors, agents or joint- venture partners.

Tsang also went on radio in Canada to explain the latest developments in Hong Kong. During the hour-long Chinese-language program, Tsang chatted with listeners in the Vancouver area and gave them an overview of Hong Kong's economic prospects and constitutional development.

He discussed a range of issues including Hong Kong-Canada ties, the quality of life in Hong Kong, job opportunities for professionals and young people, political development, air pollution and environmental protection.

Canada is Tsang's first leg of his three-country tour. The second and final legs of visit will be paid to the United States and Britain.

Source: Xinhua