Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng began a four-day visit to Shanghai and Ningbo of Zhejiang province on Monday, according to a news release from the Information Services Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

The mission, organized by the Maritime Industry Council and the Marine Department, serves as a platform for industry leaders to meet potential customers and partners and keep pace with the latest developments in Shanghai and Ningbo, the news release said.

According to the released schedule, the 29-member mission will on Tuesday visit Marintec China 2007, a prominent international shipping and maritime trade fair with 1,100 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, including Hong Kong.

Cheng will open the Hong Kong Pavilion at Marintec China, which will showcase Hong Kong's strengths in maritime services such as ocean transport, ship management, ship register, maritime communications and navigation equipment.

Cheng will on Wednesday open a seminar on Hong Kong maritime services in Ningbo, where speakers from the mission will update the Chinese mainland audience on Hong Kong's professional services in shipping finance, insurance, maritime law, taxation, ship management and shipping register, the news release said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2007)