The delegation paid a visit to the Qianhai Stone Park, Shenzhen.

In November, John Swire & Sons (HK) Limited Chairman, Merlin Swire, joined a Hong Kong and Macau delegation to Shenzhen and Beijing, marking the 40th anniversary of China's economic reforms and opening up. Led by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, the 160-member group included representatives from various sectors that have contributed to the past 40 years of growth. In Shenzhen for day one of their three-day trip, the delegation visited an exhibition charting the transformation of China's first Special Economic Zone from a fishing village into a city of 12 million that is the country's leading innovation and technology centre. The group then attended a lunch hosted by Mr Wang Weizhong, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee, before visiting the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, Shenzhen's new business and financial services hub.

In Beijing, the delegation took part in a seminar looking at Hong Kong's future role in China's economic development and were received by President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier Han Zheng. During the meeting, President Xi expressed his "four hopes" for Hong Kong and Macau: that the two cities should take part in national governance, support the country's opening up, integrate with national development, and promote international people-to-people exchanges.

President Xi met with the Hong Kong delegation at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.