Liu Yongqing, wife of President Hu Jintao, visited the Hong Kong Monetary
Authority (HKMA) at the Two Hong Kong International Finance Center
Saturday morning.
Accompanied by Selina Tsang, wife of Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Liu
viewed the information center of the HKMA, including an exhibition
hall and a library.
Joseph Yam, chief executive of the HKMA, briefed Liu on the
history of Hong Kong's financial sector, especially the development
of the sector in the past ten years and the Renminbi business of
Hong Kong-based banks.
He said that the central government's support is indispensable
for the development of Hong Kong's financial industry, citing that
the supplement to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which was signed days before, has
further eased restriction on mainland market access for Hong Kong's
financial services. In addition, Renminbi bonds have been issued in
Hong Kong recently, he added.
Established on April 1, 1993, the HKMA is the governing
authority in Hong Kong responsible for maintaining monetary and
banking stability.
President Hu and his wife arrived in Hong Kong Friday to attend
the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's
return to China.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2007)