The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hos… read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 15) that due to bi… read more
Hongkong Post announced today (February 15) that the 2018 Prestige Annual Stamp Album and the 2018 Annual Stamp Pack will be released for sale at all 38 philatelic offices and the PostShop at the General Post Office, as we… read more
Some 450 guests attended a spring reception in Tokyo, Japan, today (February 14) organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) to celebrate the Year of the Pig.
Speaking to guests from various sectors including the Japanese political and business circles, academia, the media and community groups, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Shirley Yung, pointed out that Hong Kong and Japan have been enjoying close relationships on many fronts.
“Japan is our fourth largest trading partner and Hong Kong is Japan’s eighth largest. Hong Kong and Japan are each other’s fourth largest source market of tourists, with 2.2 million Hong Kong visitors coming to Japan last year. About 1,400 Japanese companies have set up businesses in Hong Kong, forming the largest group of overseas companies,” she said.
Ms Yung added that 2019 has been designated as Hong Kong – Japan Tourism Year, and encouraged Japanese people to take this special opportunity to visit Hong Kong.
“Over the past few years, we saw increasing connectivity between Japan and Hong Kong. There are now over 450 direct flights every week connecting Hong Kong with 16 destinations in Japan,” she added.
The spring reception was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. To promote Hong Kong’s arts and music talent, Hong Kong music group Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble was invited to perform at the reception.
Following the meeting with about 30 Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress on February 12, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by Secretaries of Departments and a Director of Bureau, met with more than 80 Hong Kong members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) today (February 14) to listen to their views on Hong Kong’s integration with the overall development of the nation and its active participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mrs Lam said that with the concern and support of the leaders of the Central Government, Hong Kong has made good progress in various areas in the past year and that she was very encouraged by it. Those areas include Hong Kong’s active participation in and contribution to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative; strengthening of co-operation with the Mainland in innovation and technology; seeking of measures to assist Hong Kong residents in studying, working and living in the Mainland; and enhancement and implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. In particular, she said that the long-anticipated Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be promulgated within days, making 2019 the opening year of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. She encouraged the members of the CPPCC to actively express their views and propose feasible initiatives.
In addition, given that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mrs Lam said the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will organise a series of celebration activities and that she welcomes organisations and other bodies to which the CPPCC members belonged to hold celebrations to share the joy with members of the public.
