On Thursday, 9 November 2017, His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, met with the Honourable Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the People’s Republic of China, at the Furama Resort Da Nang in Da Nang, Vietnam.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Don welcomed the announcement of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR on its plan to establish a Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Thailand, which will be Hong Kong’s third office in Southeast Asia.  He also informed the Hong Kong side that the Thai Cabinet on 7 November 2017 gave approval in principle to the setting-up of the HKETO.  Further details regarding this matter will be discussed by the two sides. 

The two sides also exchanged views on how to further promote cooperation in potential areas, such as the mutual use of automated immigration facilities, creative industry, innovation, and people-to-people connectivity, particularly among young people.  They also discussed cooperation between ASEAN and Hong Kong.  In this regard, Secretary Yau expressed appreciation for Thailand’s support for the ASEAN-Hong Kong FTA, which will be signed on 12 November in Manila.

Secretary Yau assumed his current position on 1 July 2017.  Prior to this, he held various positions in the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, including the Director of the Office of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR from 2012 to 2017, Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower from 2004 to 2006, and the Director-General of the HKETO in Washington, D.C. from 2001 to 2004.