The Malta Chamber's Internationalisation Desk is holding a seminar on "Doing Business with Hong Kong" tomorrow at 2 p.m.

The seminar is aimed at Maltese firms currently doing business with or through Hong Kong or which are examining the possibility of doing so. The possibilities of combining the status of Hong Kong as a trading hub and financial centre, with Malta's favourable position as a potential gateway to Europe, and relatively low cost English-speaking service providers, will come under the spotlight. The potential of the creation of an axis for trade in goods, services and financial transactions between China and Europe will also be discussed.

Alex Fong, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is travelling purposely to Malta for the event. Mr Fong was previously an administrative officer in the Hong Kong government and represented Hong Kong abroad as head of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in New York and in Tokyo.

The seminar will also be addressed by Richard Cottell, head of commercial banking at HSBC Bank Malta. HSBC owes its origins to Hong Kong where it still has a very strong presence.

The president of Francis J. Vassallo and Associates Ltd, and former governor of the Central Bank, Francis Vassallo will be sharing his extensive experience in doing business in Hong Kong, and expanding on the connections between the financial regulations, and their implications and opportunities.

Jason Azzopardi, the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Businesses and Land, will close the seminar by discussing the ramifications of the double taxation agreement negotiations between Malta and Hong Kong.