The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is scheduled to leave for Hainan tomorrow to attend the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2009.

Under the theme "Asia: Managing beyond Crisis", the three-day event will be highlighted by the presence of Premier Wen Jiabao, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Togo, Mr Faure Gnassingbe, as well as prominent officials from about 20 countries and renowned business leaders and scholars.

Participants of the event will discuss the challenges stemming from the global financial crisis, the balance between opening and monitoring, the economic outlook in 2009, financial innovation, and the development of emerging economies.

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Ho is away.