Merlin Swire and Mr Ying Yong, Deputy Party Secretary and Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai.

In October, senior executives from the Swire group paid a round of courtesy calls on senior Chinese government officials in Beijing and Shanghai. The delegation was led by Merlin Swire, Deputy Chairman and CEO of John Swire & Sons Limited, who took the opportunity to brief officials on the group's business developments and celebration events marking its 150th anniversary in China.

In Beijing, the delegation met with Madam Wu Guiying, Party Secretary of Beijing's Chaoyang District. Mr Swire updated Madam Wu on Swire Properties' strategies and progress in developing the Sanlitun area and both parties expressed their confidence in furthering bilateral cooperation. In Shanghai, Mr Ying Yong, Deputy Party Secretary and Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai, was briefed on Swire's Shanghai property investments, including HKRI Taikoo Hui and the Qiantan project, as well as Swire's long history of doing business in Shanghai. Mr Ying said he looked forward to further collaboration with Swire.