With healthy economic performance and the launch of tourism events of "2006 Discover Hong Kong Year", Hong Kong expects to attract more visitors and investment from Japan in 2006.

"A total of over 23.35 million people visited Hong Kong last year, among whom some 1.21 million people came from Japan," said Kunio Kana,representative of Tokyo office, Hong Kong Tourism Board. "We hope to draw 1.43 million Japanese visitors in 2006." A range of tourism activities will be held in Hong Kong to reach the goal.

"The Hong Kong-Japan 2005 Project has fostered cooperation between the two in cultural and economic fields and promoted exchanges of goods, funds and personnel," said Fang Zhiwei, chief representative of Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Fang said 2006 would see a continuation of activities of 2005.

"With a population of 6.9 million, Hong Kong's GDP has exceeded 24,000 U.S. dollars per capita in 2004," Fang said the economy of the region is developing healthily and the implementation of a Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with Hong Kong has been helpful.

"Hong Kong is very competitive in economic development," said Shigemi Furuta, director of Japan branch of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, "Hong Kong has strong potential in industries such as sea cargo, logistics, exporting, financial and fund management."

The agency aims to promote the manufacture of toys, jewelry, electronic productions, auto parts as well as financial, logistics and accounting services in 2006.

Hong Kong will hold exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese cities in 2006 on food and drink, jewelry, toys, fur products, electronics, movies, telecommunications and etc., according to Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Source: Xinhua