The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said that the SmartPLAY system has experienced temporary technical problem this morning (August 29) which affected user login. The problem is solved and the system has resu… read more
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (Tokyo ETO) held a reception in Seoul, Korea, today (August 28) to update some 250 guests from various sectors in Korea on the latest developments in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) landscape, as well as the opportunities available through Hong Kong as a gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
In her welcoming remarks, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said that the bond between Hong Kong and Korea has always been strong.
“In 2023, Korea was Hong Kong’s sixth largest merchandise trading partner, while we were Korea’s 10th largest trading partner, and fifth largest export market. In the first half of 2024, there were more than 250 000 arrivals of Hong Kong tourists to Korea. During the same period, there were some 420 000 arrivals of Korean tourists to Hong Kong, representing a 270 per cent increase annually,” she said.
At the reception, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, delivered a keynote speech on “Hong Kong – Your ‘Super Connector’ and ‘Super Value-Adder’ with the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area”. She introduced the prosperous development and business opportunities of the GBA in various areas, and encouraged the Korean talents and enterprises to capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths as the “super connector” and “super value-adder” to tap into the huge market of the GBA and the Mainland through Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong is a core city in the GBA. Thanks to the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong is the GBA’s international entry point, the ideal base for Korean companies and talent looking to tap into the region’s vast opportunities, and the best platform to build your Mainland and Asian business and career,” she said.
The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, made a keynote speech at the reception on “Hong Kong – The Future of Innovation and Technology”. She said that Hong Kong is in a golden age of I&T development with opportunities abound. It is now the best time to invest in I&T in Hong Kong, as a new I&T industry system has begun to take shape. Hong Kong will continue to advocate for and strengthen the efficient collaboration among the Government, industry, academic, research and investment sectors. This will bring more enterprises together to promote industry development, and facilitate a healthy technology and start-up environment.
Ms Cheong said, “With our proactive government initiatives and industry facilitation policies, as well as strong research and development capability promoting global I&T collaborations, these are all favourable factors creating a business-friendly environment for Korean technology companies and start-ups to grow, expand and succeed in Hong Kong.”
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (August 28) concluded his visit to Beijing.
Mr Sun first met with the Secretary General of the China Workers’ Center for International Exchange of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Mr Zhang Guang, yesterday (August 27). Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and understanding, and strengthen ties on issues related to labour affairs.
Mr Sun and the team then departed for an elderly care service centre in Xicheng District. They were shown the integrated elderly care services facilities and system adopted by the centre, from which they could draw reference in areas such as elderly care services and application of big data.
The delegation also visited Tsinghua University and Peking University yesterday and today respectively. They met with the Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of China Tsinghua University Committee, Professor Guo Yong; and the Deputy Secretary of the Peking University Party Committee and Vice President of Peking University, Professor Ning Qi, to introduce the HKSAR Government’s talent attraction measures as well as the work of Hong Kong Talent Engage in providing comprehensive one-stop support services to talent arriving in Hong Kong. Mr Sun said that Tsinghua University and Peking University are both top institutions in the Mainland, and are eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. He said he was pleased to learn that applications from over 3 000 graduates of each of the two universities have already been approved since the launch of the TTPS, and encouraged more outstanding graduates and alumni from the two universities to showcase their talent and pursue a career in Hong Kong.
Mr Sun led the delegation to call on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security this morning and met with its Minister, Ms Wang Xiaoping. During the meeting, Mr Sun reported to Ms Wang on the implementation progress of talent attraction initiatives and labour affairs of the HKSAR Government. They also exchanged views on striving to build Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent so as to make greater contributions to the country’s development. On behalf of the HKSAR Government, Mr Sun expressed gratitude to Ms Wang and the Ministry again for their support of and attendance at the inaugural Global Talent Summit · Hong Kong held in Hong Kong in May.
Before leaving Beijing, the delegation visited the International Labour Organization Country Office for China and Mongolia and met with its Deputy Director, Mr Dai Xiaochu, to exchange views on various labour matters.
Mr Sun’s planned visit to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council was rescheduled due to a change in itinerary. He will lead a delegation to visit Beijing again later and call on leaders of the HKMAO of the State Council.
Mr Sun and the delegation returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, commenced his visit programme in Nanjing today (August 28).
In the morning, Mr Chan attended “SmartHK” and delivered his opening remarks. He said that Jiangsu has been deepening its high-quality opening-up efforts and building an innovation hub for industrial technologies. As an international financial, trade and shipping centre, Hong Kong is also advancing its development into an international innovation and technology centre, an intellectual property trading centre and an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges. Hong Kong and Jiangsu can further deepen collaboration on the current solid foundation of partnership, contributing together to the country’s high-quality development. Looking forward, he outlined four areas for capitalising on Hong Kong’s strengths while enhancing the mutually beneficial collaboration between the two places. First, to utilise Hong Kong’s international financial market to help Jiangsu enterprises to expand their financing channels. Second, to make good use of Hong Kong’s professional services platform and strengths in building a multinational supply chain management centre. Third, to harness the research and development synergy of the two places and open up new co-operation areas in science and innovation. Fourth, to strengthen collaboration in the creative and cultural industries and tell the world good stories of China. Mr Chan also welcomed companies in Jiangsu and the Yangtze River Delta to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to develop international businesses. He also welcomed talent there to come to Hong Kong and develop their careers and to make contributions to deepening regional co-operation and better development of the two places.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan also met with the Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr Xu Kunlin, and introduced to Mr Xu Hong Kong’s latest situation and development directions. Both sides exchanged views on co-operation in such areas as finance, trade, innovation and technology, education, culture. Mr Chan said he is confident that Hong Kong and Jiangsu would, building on the solid foundation established, continue to expand and deepen their collaboration, and work more closely in different areas. Both should join hands to spur technological innovation and nurture new industries together. He added that Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and serves as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” that can help Jiangsu enterprises go global and tap into international markets. Meanwhile, Hong Kong can help Jiangsu attract overseas funds and investors. The two places can seize the vast opportunities of high-quality development together.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Dr Peter Lam; the Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mr Henry Tang; the Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang; the Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming; and the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip, joined the meeting.
Mr Chan also visited the Jiangsu Hongkong Chamber of Commerce and met with businessmen in Jiangsu investing in Hong Kong to understand their business situations in Hong Kong and exchange views on issues such as the economic and business environment. He encouraged Jiangsu businesspersons in Hong Kong to play a bridging role in facilitating more investment co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong, and to be innovative and bold in opening new markets to create more room for development.
Mr Chan concluded his visit to Nanjing in the evening and would depart for Hong Kong.
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, today (August 28) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Senior Field Assistant of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Mr Lam Kin-wai, during his work at Tai Mo Shan Country Park. She extended her deepest condolences to Mr Lam’s family.
Mr Lam had served the AFCD for more than 13 years. The Civil Service Bureau is in contact with the AFCD to make every effort to help the family during this sad and difficult period. read more