The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin, which represents the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, officially started operation on Monday, the HKSAR government said.

Rita Lau, secretary for commerce and economic development, said the establishment of the office would greatly help foster ties between Hong Kong and central and eastern European countries and regions including Germany.

Stephen Wong, director of the Berlin office, said a team has been working in Brussels on the establishment of the economic and trade office since 2007.

The office is the official representative of the HKSAR government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

The HKSAR government has established economic and trade offices in many cities to serve the purpose of promoting economic and trade ties in different regions.

Source: Xinhua