They were attending the first Jiangsu-Hong Kong Week being held all this week. About 200 officials, entrepreneurs and specialists and more than 1,000 representatives from East China's Jiangsu Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are taking part in a series of activities in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, including exhibitions and symposiums.

"Hong Kong is a useful platform for enterprises on the Chinese mainland, especially SMEs," said Chan Wing-kee, head of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.

He said large enterprises could raise capital by getting listed on the Hong Kong market, while the smaller firms that are unable to be listed should also fully utilize the chances offered by Hong Kong.

"For example, they could find some SMEs in Hong Kong to cooperate with as an initial step," said Chan.

"Through the Hong Kong SMEs, they may even get the chance to cooperate with some foreign SMEs," he added. "The three sides - SMEs on the Chinese mainland, SMEs in Hong Kong and foreign SMEs - could co-operate to make a better future for all of them."

Pong Wai-yan, vice-president of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said Hong Kong could become a bank of useful information for smaller firms both at home and abroad.

According to Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Tang Ying, 98 percent of enterprises in Hong Kong are small or medium-sized firms, which play important roles in all kinds of fields.

(China Daily December 12, 2002)