​The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (September 2) started his duty visit to Singapore as part of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK)'s latest efforts to promote Hong Kong's business attractions.
              
      During the visit, Mr Phillips will meet with leaders from various companies that have plans to set up a presence in Hong Kong, including those in the creative industries; healthcare, innovative food, and fintech sectors; as well as various business and professional services companies. He will also speak at a roundtable event supported by Enterprise Singapore to update business communities about the opportunities Hong Kong has to offer related to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
              
      "Hong Kong and Singapore share some similar characteristics as Asia's international business cities, yet both are unique in terms of geographical locations and business ecosystems," Mr Phillips said.
     
      "Hong Kong's special functions in the Greater Bay Area development provide an unrivalled leverage point for Singaporean companies and startups to capture new opportunities in the city and Mainland China over the long run. The Outline Development Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has set out Hong Kong's multiple roles, among other things as an international financial city, a global innovation hub and the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the long run, these areas of work are all conducive to developing Hong Kong further as an international metropolis with enhanced competitiveness."
                            
About InvestHK
                     
     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

     Owing to the Strong Wind Signal No. 3, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (September 2) will be cancelled.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

     "The Social Welfare Department announces that due to the issuing of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3, members of the public are advised not to take their children or family members to child care centres, centres providing after school care programmes, elderly services centres or day rehabilitation units, including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres and day activity centres. These centres will, however, remain open to serve those whose families cannot provide alternative care for them."

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 3 is now in force, classes of AM and whole-day kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are suspended today.

     If the Hong Kong Observatory cancels the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 3 before 10.30am, classes of PM kindergartens will resume today.

     In response to the vandalistic acts of violent protesters at Hong Kong International Airport and MTR stations today (September 1), a Government spokesman said the following:

     Despite the issuance of separate injunction orders earlier by the court to restrain people from obstructing the operation of the airport and railway, a large number of protesters deliberately obstructed the operation of the airport today with no regard for law and order. They blocked traffic and set fires in the vicinity, seriously paralysing traffic around the airport, affecting a large number of travellers and damaging the economy of Hong Kong. Some violent protesters threw objects at the railway tracks, jeopardising the safety of the railway operation. Some violent protesters wantonly vandalised MTR stations, particularly Tung Chung station which was severely damaged, suspending the services of several MTR lines. Some people assaulted other members of the public during the protests and some offenders burned a national flag removed at Tung Chung Swimming Pool, challenging national authority and the bottom line of "One Country, Two Systems".

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government severely condemns the vandalistic and illegal acts of the violent protesters. The protesters totally disregarded the needs of travellers and members of the public. They threatened with violence and took malicious revenge on people with different views as well as innocent people and organisations. Their acts are barbaric and outrageous. The police will take resolute enforcement actions against all illegal and violent acts to protect the safety and rights of the members of the public.