|
|
|
|
|
|
Hong Kong, China Delegation wins three medals in Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong won the first gold medal of Hong Kong, China in the Women’s Épée Individual event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on 27 July. Fencer Cheung Ka-long then defended the gold medal title in the Men’s Foil Individual event on 29 July, which is the second gold medal won by the Hong Kong, China Delegation at the Paris Games. Swimming athlete Siobhan Bernadette Haughey also won the bronze medal in the Women’s 200m Freestyle event on same day. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr John Lee, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the athletes and their coaches, wishing the Hong Kong, China Delegation will continue to achieve remarkable results in other events and unleash their potential to win honour for Hong Kong.
See the Chief Executive’s congratulations to Vivian Kong, Cheung Ka-long and Siobhan Bernadette Haughey. |
|
|
|
|
|
Celebration of 27th Anniversary of Establishment of HKSAR
Speaking at the reception in celebration of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr John Lee, said that over the past two years, the Government has worked to further improve governance, continued to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressed the concerns of the people of Hong Kong, and united efforts in safeguarding harmony and stability. He is also grateful for the Central Government’s support and care in launching a variety of further measures benefitting Hong Kong. Looking ahead, the HKSAR Government will focus its efforts in three main areas, including developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood, reinforcing Hong Kong’s competitive edge and exploring new areas of growth, and seizing both national and international opportunities, and boarding the “fast train” of the country’s development.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of card-type document to non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents to enhance convenience of immigration clearance
The HKSAR Government welcomes and expresses gratitude to the country for announcing that non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents are eligible for a card-type document (Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens)) to enhance convenience of clearance at control points of the Mainland China, facilitating their visit to the Mainland for business, travelling, and visiting relatives. The Exit and Entry Administration of China has started issuing the card on 10 July. Under the new measure, all non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents are able to make applications to the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited entrusted by the Exit and Entry Administration of China for travelling to the Mainland multiple times within a five-year validity period (with a stay not exceeding 90 days for each visit), without the need to apply for a separate visa to enter the Mainland. The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr John Lee, said that this measure is not limited to any nationality or industry, which fully highlights Hong Kong’s unique status under “one country, two systems” and greatly helps Hong Kong maintain its international character and diversity, thereby providing a significant incentive for companies and talent from around the world to settle in Hong Kong.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Invest Hong Kong reports good increase in number of companies assisted for first six months of year
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced on 2 July that the department had assisted 322 Mainland and overseas companies to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong during the first six months of the year. The number represents a year-on-year rise of 43 per cent. The total investment brought to Hong Kong’s economy has reached HK$38.3 billion and created more than 3 500 job opportunities, up 6 per cent and 44 per cent respectively on a year-on-year basis. The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said that the growth is attributable to the gradual recovery of the global economy and the continuous support by the Mainland, hence accelerating the pace of companies expanding their business to Hong Kong. She added that InvestHK will continue to promote the city’s strengths, where financial services, innovation and technology (I&T) and family offices are among some of the priority sectors.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
First batch of visa applications approved under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
In June, the Immigration Department approved the first batch of visa applications under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES), with Formal Approval granted in less than three months. Since the launch of the New CIES on 1 March to 30 June, there were 339 applications received, 88 Approval-in-Principle granted, and three visas approved, with an expected investment amount of over HK$10 billion to be brought into Hong Kong. The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said that the New CIES brings a vast pool of talents to Hong Kong, attracting successful businessmen and innovative entrepreneurs and hence enhancing the developmental strengths of Hong Kong's asset and wealth management industry.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cathay Pacific internship programme event
HKETO co-hosted a Cathay Pacific internship programme event with Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong House on 3 July. The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, shared with the students from the University of New South Wales the latest development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), highlighting that the GBA and its 11 constituent cities, including Hong Kong, are blessed with regional and global connectivity, counting seven airports that connect to 230 destinations. Hong Kong is the international entry point of the GBA with its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”. She added that the GBA is a leader in I&T, offering a wealth of opportunities for young minds to explore. She encouraged the students joining the internship programme to make the most of their first-hand experience in Hong Kong and the GBA, and to embrace the diverse and multicultural environment that Hong Kong is renowned for.
Consul of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney, Ms Lin Xiaoqing; and Cathay Pacific Regional General Manager, Southwest Pacific, Mr Frosti Lau, also shared with the participants the immense opportunities of the GBA and the internship programme.
|
|
|
|
|
|
HKETO supported the 2024 Australia-China Health Summit organised by the Australia China Business Council
HKETO supported the 2024 Australia-China Health Summit organised by the Australia China Business Council in Melbourne on 10 July. Speaking at a panel session, the Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, said that Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering innovation in health tech is steadfast, with significant investment in research, development, and infrastructure. The Government is rolling out more funding support in life and health technology with HK$10 billion earmarked for such purpose, including HK$6 billion for providing subsidies for local universities to collaborate with overseas and Mainland organisations to set up life and health technology research institutes. She highlighted that since January 2023, Hong Kong’s investment promotion agencies have successfully supported the setting-up or expansion of 45 life and health technology companies in Hong Kong from nine jurisdictions. These enterprises will provide more than 3 200 job opportunities in Hong Kong and their total investment approached HK$6.5 billion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
HKETO presented award-winning dance performance “Convergence” in Sydney
HKETO presented an award-winning dance performance “Convergence” staged by the Hong Kong Dance Company in Sydney on 12 and 13 July to showcase Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West culture and the city’s exceptional talent. HKETO hosted a reception on 12 July before the premiere performance to foster cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Australia. The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, said in her welcoming remarks that the Government is dedicated to nurturing the cultural development of Hong Kong, and HKETO attaches great importance to promoting arts and cultural exchanges with the local communities in Australia by actively assisting the touring of arts groups and delegations. Miss Lim also introduced to the guests the newly launched Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and various initiatives of the Government to attract talent to Hong Kong.
During their tour in Sydney, the Hong Kong Dance Company also joined with the Academy of Music and Performing Arts to conduct a masterclass and visited the Sydney Dance Company to enhance cultural exchange between the dance communities in the two places. |
|
|
|
|
|
Director of HKETO Sydney virtually attended the “Hong Kong Connects: Innovation and Technology Hub” event organised by the Western Australia Chapter of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, virtually attended the “Hong Kong Connects: Innovation and Technology Hub” event organised by the Western Australia Chapter of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association (HKABA) on 16 July. Miss Lim said that the Hong Kong Government promulgated the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint in December 2022 to establish a clear development path and systematic strategic planning for Hong Kong’s I&T development, charting Hong Kong in moving full steam towards its vision of developing into an international I&T centre.
She highlighted that InvestHK had assisted 322 overseas and Mainland companies to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong in the first six months of this year, and over one-third of them are in the I&T, fintech and finance sectors. Miss Lim also introduced the new Mainland Travel Permit for non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents to travel to Mainland China and encouraged the participants to explore Hong Kong’s vibrant I&T ecosystem. |
|
|
|
|
|
Director of HKETO Sydney attended “Hong Kong: Your Destination for Business and Leisure” event organised by the South Australia Chapter of the HKABA
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the “Hong Kong: Your Destination for Business and Leisure” event organised by the South Australia Chapter of the HKABA on 17 July. Miss Lim shared with the participants various initiatives to attract enterprises, investment and talent to Hong Kong, highlighting the encouraging results of assisting 322 overseas and Mainland companies in the first half of 2024 by InvestHK to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong. Miss Lim also introduced the Mainland Travel Permits for non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents to travel to Mainland China multiple times within a five-year validity period, and the Government’s effort to promote mega event economy. |
|
|
|
|
|
Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Business Awards Gala Dinner organised by the Victoria Chapter of the HKABA
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Business Awards Gala Dinner organised by the Victoria Chapter of the HKABA on 18 July. Addressing about 250 guests, Miss Lim shared the exciting developments in Hong Kong, particularly various initiatives on attracting enterprises and talent, highlighting that the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises has brought in some 50 strategic enterprises to Hong Kong, covering life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, fintech, and advanced manufacturing and new energy.
Miss Lim added that the Government has received over 300 000 applications from different talent schemes in the past year and a half, with 190 000 approved and nearly 130 000 talents have already arrived in Hong Kong. She also promoted Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s Events Capital, noting that Hong Kong will host over 210 mega events throughout 2024. |
|
|
|
|
|
Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Future of Finance in Digital Assets Business Seminar organised by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Future of Finance in Digital Assets Business Seminar organised by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association (HKNZBA) on 25 July. Miss Lim said that Hong Kong stands at the forefront of the digital revolution with its dynamic financial ecosystem and robust regulatory framework. She highlighted that the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong has implemented a licensing regime for virtual assets (VA) trading platform since June 2023, enabling investors to conduct trading on licensed trading platforms in compliance with the relevant international standards and in a protected environment. On the market development front, Hong Kong has advanced its securities rules to allow regulated intermediaries to offer trading of eligible VA Futures exchange-traded funds to retail investors in Hong Kong, making it a pioneer in the Asian market. |
|
|
|
|
|
Deputy Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Students Career Start Up Drive event organised by the HKNZBA
The Deputy Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Timothy Chau, attended the Students Career Start Up Drive event organised by the HKNZBA on 30 July. Mr Chau said that Hong Kong is a global hub of trade, finance and innovation and offers a lot of opportunities for students in New Zealand. He said that the Hong Kong Government has been proactively attracting talent from around the world by launching various talent admission schemes, including the Top Talent Pass Scheme, targeting high-income professionals and graduates from the world’s top 100 universities. Mr Chau encouraged students to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” and explore working opportunities in Hong Kong after graduation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship (Hong Kong)
To be held from 15 to 24 August, the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship is the highest junior-level tournament organised by World Lacrosse. The first edition of the event was held in 1995 and is hosted by different cities around the world every four years. Top teams from around the globe are ready to compete in the competition in the heart of Hong Kong, the first city in Asia to host this championship.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
Belt and Road Summit (Hong Kong)
The Belt and Road Summit is a premier international platform for promoting business collaboration along the Belt and Road. The Summit gathers senior government officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange insights on multilateral co-operation and explore concrete business opportunities. To be held on 11-12 September, the 2024 edition of the Belt and Road Summit will focus on the theme of “Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road”. The Summit sessions’ market coverage will expand to include more Belt and Road markets with new opportunities.
More details here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|