Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife, Laureen, stand above the Huangpu River as they look out over Shanghai on Saturday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Canadian beef exporters have regained access to the Hong Kong market following a meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the former British colony's chief executive.

Regaining access to Hong Kong sends a strong signal to all Asian markets that Canadian beef is safe, Harper said in a statement late Saturday night.

Hong Kong, a key market for the Canadian agriculture sector, is worth more than half a billion dollars for the nation's farmers and processors. In 2008, Hong Kong was Canada's fourth-largest export market for beef.

On Sunday, the prime minister participated in the annual commemorative service at the Sai Wan War Cemetery honouring the Canadian soldiers who defended the territory during the Second World War.

"Today, we acknowledge our eternal debt to those who have served our country," Harper said. "We are also reminded of the gratitude we owe to those who continue to defend our values in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world."

A vastly outnumbered contingent of Canadians, along with troops from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and India, defended the territory against Japanese invaders for 17 days, finally surrendering on Christmas Day, 1941.

Canada's losses were heavy, with 290 soldiers killed and 493 wounded.

More than 550 Canadians who fought in Hong Kong died in the campaign or in captivity.

Harper arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday after telling a business meeting in Shanghai that Canada can do better to forge business ties with mainland China.

Before flying to Hong Kong, Harper met with Canadian business leaders in the coastal city. He said Canada secured some concrete benefits during his four-day visit to mainland China, but added the two countries still need to push forward with comprehensive economic agreements.

"Canada has made a real significant impact here [but] at the same time we all sense we are only scratching the surface," he told them.

According to the Canadian government, two-way trade has expanded at the rate of 14 per cent a year since 2008, but in relative terms Canada is losing the race to gain a foothold in the country. Canada's share in trade volume compared to other foreign countries has fallen to one per cent from an earlier 1.8 per cent.

Summing up his trip, Harper concentrated on the "achievables," including finally securing a tourism deal that could bring $100 million a year to operators in Canada, and China's lifting of a ban on pork imports.

PM as tourist

The prime minister played the role of tourist Saturday during a hectic half day in Shanghai as he and wife, Laureen, visited the popular Yu Garden market, where he bought some tea for his mother.

The couple walked hand in hand along the curb as crowds gathered, in part attracted by the fleet of limousines signalling a VIP was present. Some in the crowd recognized the Canadian prime minister and began shouting "Stephen, Stephen."

After picking up some tea, Harper crossed the street to shake hands and pose for photographs.

The previous night in Shanghai, the prime minister did not appear to win any fans in a gathering of the city's business elite, when he said his government will continue to be a "vocal advocate" of human rights reform in China.

That section of the speech was greeted with silence from the crowd of businessmen, who had applauded previous statements focusing on trade and the removal of protectionist policies.

With files from The Canadian Press