Hong Kong signs Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Co-operation with South Australia (with photos)*******************************************************

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Co-operation (MOU) between Hong Kong and the State of South Australia will undoubtedly promote bilateral ties and encourage stronger co-operation in tourism between the two places, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Mr Andrew Wong, said today (April 22).



Mr Wong signed the MOU on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today with the visiting South Australian Minister for Tourism, Recreation and Sport, Mr Leon Bignell.



The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the visiting Premier of South Australia, Mr Jay Weatherill, witnessed the signing ceremony.



The MOU gives recognition to the project to provide Hong Kong Ocean Park with eight koalas by Cleland Wildlife Park, South Australia.



"We are very thankful to the Government of South Australia which has kindly agreed to present eight koalas to the Hong Kong Ocean Park in batches. This generous gift signifies the friendship between Hong Kong and South Australia, and certainly helps forge closer links between us," Mr Wong said.



Australia is the ninth largest tourism market for Hong Kong with over 630,000 arrivals last year. Reciprocally, Hong Kong was also Australia's ninth largest source market with over 170,000 Hong Kong residents going there in 2012. Quite a number of Hong Kong people include South Australia in their itineraries.



Ends/Monday, April 22, 2013

Issued at HKT 11:18



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