Hong Kong will set up an overseas office in Berlin this year to strengthen its economic ties with Europe.
The office, to be headed by a middle-ranking directorate-grade official, will be the government's fourth in Europe. It already has branches in London, Brussels and Geneva.
The move is also part of a plan to restructure its offices on the continent. The Brussels office will be the largest, while London will be downgraded. The Geneva office will focus on Hong Kong's role in World Trade Organisation negotiations.
The restructuring is expected to prompt a round of reshuffles among senior officials, with top positions in the London and Washington offices to be vacated soon.
It is expected that the head in London, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, will return to Hong Kong and become permanent secretary for home affairs, while Washington chief Jacqueline Willis will retire.
A number of European countries, including Austria, Poland and Romania, are understood to have lobbied the government hard for the new office. Officials picked Berlin because Germany is Hong Kong's biggest trading partner in Europe. The plan is expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council for funding approval.
