Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau today arrived in Auckland, where he met representatives of the business sector, including the wine trade, as he continued a visit to New Zealand. 

At a lunch meeting with representatives of the industry body New Zealand Winegrowers, Mr Yau learnt about developments in the local wine industry, and discussed ways of enhancing collaboration between Hong Kong and New Zealand with regard to wine and liquor.

He briefed the representatives on Hong Kong’s advantages as a wine and liquor trading hub, and its recent reduction of liquor duty to encourage the trade and auctions of high-end liquor.

The commerce chief said that thanks to Hong Kong’s strategic location and unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, the city is the best two-way platform for New Zealand’s wine and liquor trade to tap into the fast-growing Mainland and wider Asian markets.

In the afternoon, Mr Yau met representatives of the New Zealand China Council and the Auckland Business Chamber respectively. He updated them on developments in Hong Kong, including the Northern Metropolis development, and initiatives to attract enterprises and investment around the globe.

The two sides also exchanged views on forging greater business co-operation between Hong Kong and New Zealand, and using Hong Kong as a gateway to explore the vast Greater Bay Area market.

In the evening, Mr Yau attended a Hong Kong Dinner co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade office, Sydney and the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association.

Speaking at the dinner, Mr Yau said the synergy between Hong Kong’s service-oriented economy and New Zealand’s world-renowned expertise in food and agriculture presents opportunities that go far beyond simple imports and exports, and that the two-way relationship will continue to evolve and thrive.