Secretary for Development visits Auckland (with photos)

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, arrived in Auckland today (May 6) to continue her official visit to New Zealand.

She met the officials of the Sea+City Projects Limited to learn about the planning and re-development of Wynyard Point - an important waterfront area in Auckland.

The 35-hectare area of Wynyard Point will be gradually transformed from a largely port related industrial area into a mixed-use, multi-purpose urban village comprising public open space, a marine event centre, residential and commercial buildings in the next 20 to 25 years.

Mrs Lam also toured the harbour areas in a water taxi to get a better understanding of the waterfront developments.

Upon her arrival in Auckland this morning, Mrs Lam went to visit the New Zealand National Maritime Museum located in the heart of Auckland's downtown waterfront area.

Opened to the public in August 1993, the museum has developed a reputation as a world-class maritime museum. It is built on a wharf projecting into the Viaduct Harbour - the country's busiest harbour.

In the evening, Mrs Lam attended a reception hosted by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association with the presence of more than 110 entrepreneurs and business executives. Mrs Lam briefed them on the latest developments of the infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, the Conserving Central projects, as well as the initiative to revitalise Hong Kong's industrial buildings.

Noting that the Hong Kong, China - New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) Agreement was signed in March this year, Mrs Lam said the Agreement was a comprehensive and high quality Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and was Hong Kong's first FTA with a foreign economy.

"The CEP Agreement will be conducive to strengthen the economic ties between Hong Kong and New Zealand, and help create business opportunities for traders of both economies. We look forward to the successful implementation of the Agreement," she said.

Before concluding her visit to New Zealand tomorrow (May 7), Mrs Lam will tour the Bank of New Zealand Office at Deloitte Centre. Opened in March 2010, Deloitte Centre is the first high-rise building in New Zealand to achieve a five-star design rating with the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.

Ends/Thursday, May 6, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:43

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The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, arrives in Auckland today (May 6) to continue her official visit to New Zealand. She tours the New Zealand National Maritime Museum this morning on her arrival in Auckland. The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, views a model of Wynyard Point - an important waterfront area in Auckland today (May 6). Wynyard Point will be gradually transformed into a mixed-use, multi-purpose urban village comprising public open space, a marine event centre, residential and commercial buildings in the next 20 to 25 years. In a reception hosted by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association in Auckland today (May 6), the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, briefs the entrepreneurs and business executives on the latest developments of the infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, the Conserving Central projects, as well as the initiative to revitalise Hong Kong's industrial buildings.

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