On January 11, 2011, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun met with the delegation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government officials led by Howard Chan, Deputy Secretary of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau.

Zhang said that Hong Kong-related foreign affairs are major component of the national diplomacy. The Foreign Ministry will spare no efforts to do everything that is beneficial to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. It will continue to fully support Hong Kong in expanding external exchanges, protect the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong compatriots abroad, contribute to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and provide quality services for Hong Kong compatriots. Chan thanked the Foreign Ministry and its Office of the Commissioner in Hong Kong for supporting the SAR in expanding external exchanges and expressed appreciation on their consular protection efforts for Hong Kong. He noted that the SAR government expects to further strengthen communications and cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.