We were honoured to form a delegation with the Secretary for Industry and Techonlogy, Mr John Tsang at the gala dinner organized by the Thailand-Hong Kong Business Council in the Ballroom of the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok on 26 August 2004. The delegation consisted of 9 directors and members, with the aim of promoting the benefits of CEPA to the Thai business community.

Mr Tsang told the audience during the dinner that, "Hong Kong products covered by 374 Mainland tariff codes can now enjoy zero tariffs when exported to the Mainland. CEPA also gives Hong Kong companies greater access to the Mainland in 18 services sectors, including banking, distribution and telecommunications. CEPA offers tremendous opportunities for Thai and other overseas companies to enter the Mainland market by setting up in Hong Kong, partnering with Hong Kong companies, or even acquiring a company in Hong Kong."

He also emphasized that by partnering with Hong Kong businesses and drawing on their decades of experiences in the Mainland, overseas companies can gain a fast track into that burgeoning market. Mr Tsang concluded by saying that "The best way to enter the Mainland market is to set up manufacturing operations in the PRD while running management, finance and distribution out of Hong Kong. It is a business model that combines the low costs and efficiency of the Pearl River Delta with Hong Kong's sophisticated business infrastructure."