SYDNEY, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and other dignitaries celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) at a lavish event in Sydney Tuesday evening.
"The success of Hong Kong is a success for us all, " said Bishop.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office hosted the function, which included a number of local dignitaries and Cheng Jingye, the Chinese ambassador to Australia.
Speaking about Hong Kong's development, the Australian foreign minister noted that one of the Australian government's top priorities is the successful negotiation of a free trade agreement between Australia and Hong Kong SAR.
"Hong Kong is our 12th largest trading partner and our fifth largest source of foreign investment, so it is a natural advancement of our relationship, that we should enter into a free trade agreement given our mutual commitment to an open, liberal trading system," Bishop said.
"I believe that the Australia-Hong Kong free trade agreement will be a perfect compliment to the Australia-China free trade agreement."
Ambassador Cheng said Hong Kong had kept its distinct features and strengths, retained its previous social system and way of life and its laws had remained unchanged, with the local people enjoying more rights and freedom.
