Tag Archives: China

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 37th Annual Awards Dinner today (June 19):

Josephine (Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Ms Josephine Orgill), Consul-General Gareth Williams (Consul-General of Australia to Hong Kong and Macao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. It is a pleasure to be with you tonight as we celebrate the 37th anniversary of AustCham in Hong Kong. 

     Let me begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations to you all. For nearly four decades, you have evolved from a casual lunch club into the largest offshore Australian Chamber of Commerce.

     And through your Community Awards, you not only honour excellence in sustainability, women’s leadership, sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship; you have also strengthened the vibrant ties between Hong Kong and Australia.

     We value your friendship, your contributions and your wise counsel over the years.

     Tonight’s celebration brings back fond memories of my visit to Australia last September. I was moved by the energy, the innovation and the genuine enthusiasm of Australian businesses to deepen collaboration with Hong Kong. The potential for partnership is vast and growing.

     Trade and investment are cornerstones of our relationship. Since the Hong Kong–Australia Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement came into force in 2020, our economic ties have continued to flourish. The merchandise trade between us grew by 5 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter this year.

     And we have a diverse and vibrant community of about 160 Australian companies in Hong Kong who have contributed to the dynamism of the city’s business scene and economic progress. And the 10 000 Australian nationals residing in Hong Kong, who have brought with them experience and expertise in various fields ranging from finance and education to legal services, construction engineering and more.

     For example, I trust you would be proud of the significant involvement of Australian companies in the building and management of our world-class Kai Tak Sports Park.

     As a staunch advocate of free trade, Hong Kong is eager to contribute more to regional trade and economic integration. Our application to join RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, underscores that commitment. We are grateful for AustCham’s support all the way, and we look forward to Australia’s active endorsement as well.

     In a world challenged by rising unilateralism and protectionism, like-minded economies must come together. Hong Kong and Australia share a firm commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. That shared belief is the foundation for stronger co-operation and mutual prosperity.

     Of course, our ties go beyond trade. Our people-to-people exchanges are thriving. In the first five months of this year, nearly 200 000 Australian visitors came to Hong Kong, a 35 per cent increase year-on-year. These visits not only help promote mutual understanding, but also lay the foundation for long-term collaboration in business and beyond.

     Ladies and gentlemen, looking into the future, Hong Kong continues to offer a world-class and unique platform for Australian companies seeking access to the vast Chinese Mainland market.

     Our commitment to the “one country, two systems” framework remains firm and steadfast. This is the foundation that underpins our competitiveness. As consistently acknowledged in various international rankings, Hong Kong continues to perform well in government efficiency, business environment, rule of law, infrastructure and connectivity, quality education, lifestyle and more. These strengths have made Hong Kong a highly attractive destination for global businesses.

     Indeed, in recent months we have seen a notable inflow of international capital into Hong Kong. Our stock market is gaining momentum, and bank deposits have risen by over 7 per cent last year, and another 4 per cent so far this year, reaching HK$18 trillion. These are strong indicators of renewed confidence in our markets and the opportunities offered by this city.

     In March, a new amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force. This brings good news for Australian businesses. Two key highlights: first, Australian companies established in Hong Kong can benefit from immediate priority access to the Mainland market. Second, they can opt for common law and choose Hong Kong as the place of arbitration for eligible contracts within the Greater Bay Area.

     Hong Kong is also charting an ambitious path forward. From major infrastructure projects like the Northern Metropolis, to innovation and technology development, to deeper economic integration with the Greater Bay Area, the opportunities are vast. We warmly welcome our Australian friends to be part of this exciting journey.

     In closing, I would like to thank AustCham once again for your continued partnership and support. Congratulations to all award recipients this evening. Your achievements inspire us all.

     Enjoy the dinner, and have a wonderful evening ahead. Thank you.

  

     The “Immersive Hong Kong” roving exhibition, organised by the Information Services Department (ISD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to showcase the charm and vibrancy of Hong Kong through interactive art technology, opened in Shanghai today (June 19). 

     Co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (Shanghai ETO) and with the theme of “Hong Kong – Where the World Looks Ahead”, the exhibition invites visitors from Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta to explore the unique opportunities and potential for tourism, education, business and investment in Hong Kong.

     The exhibition enables visitors to delve into different virtual scenes representing the city, with a creative twist. The five thematic zones, namely “Financial Bridgehead”, “I&T Brain Bank”, “Blossoming Creativity”, “Diversity and Greenery” and “Buzzing Sports Action”, feature multiple interactive art projections, light box installations and naked-eye 3D displays, representing the multifaceted appeal of Hong Kong.
 
     Visitors may also enjoy Hong Kong’s vibrant and colourful skyline, illustrated by Hong Kong artist Messy Desk (Jane Lee), at a photo corner in the venue. Promotional videos on Hong Kong and digital panels with information about the city, as well as insights from Mainland companies about their experiences in Hong Kong, are also on display, explaining why the city is one of the most desirable places to visit, study, live, work and invest.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony today, the Director of Information Services, Mrs Apollonia Liu, said that the exhibition will be held in three Mainland key node cities along the Belt and Road with Shanghai as the first stop, followed by Qingdao and Chengdu. 

     She said, “Hong Kong and Shanghai are two pearls of the country, one being the core city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the other being the leading city in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. There have been many fruitful outcomes from Shanghai-Hong Kong co-operation over the years. Taking economic and trade ties as an example, Hong Kong is Shanghai’s major export market and Shanghai’s largest source of investment outside Mainland China.” 

     Mrs Liu added that Shanghai and Hong Kong enjoy close arts and cultural ties, noting that the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority is also staging their WestK Shanghai Week 2025 in co-operation with a number of arts institutions in Shanghai and with the staunch support of the Shanghai Municipal Government to showcase the new landscape of Hong Kong’s arts and cultural development. She looked forward that WestK Shanghai Week 2025 would achieve a synergistic effect with the “Immersive Hong Kong” roving exhibition. 

     Introducing the highlights of the exhibition, Mrs Liu said that the thematic zone “Buzzing Sports Action” was especially set up to serve as pre-event publicity for the 15th National Games to be co-hosted by Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao in November this year. She also said that China’s national treasures, giant pandas, are featured in naked-eye 3D displays and interactive games for the first time, inviting visitors to experience the vibrancy of Hong Kong as an “events capital”. 

     Mrs Liu hoped that the exhibition could attract friends from the Mainland to learn more about Hong Kong and spark their interest in visiting the city, and come to Hong Kong in future for business and investment, employment and entrepreneurship, injecting impetus to the further growth of Hong Kong.

     To give Shanghai audiences a taste of Hong Kong’s cultural offerings, a jazz performance by two young Hong Kong music talents, harmonicist Cy Leo and pianist Freeman Lok, will be staged at the exhibition venue on June 21.  

     An interactive game, “Snap a cool shot @Immersive Hong Kong”, which will be held during the exhibition period, will offer attractive prizes sponsored by Cathay Pacific for two winners. The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a pair of round-trip business class air tickets from Shanghai to Hong Kong, while the runner-up will receive a pair of round-trip economy class air tickets of the same itinerary.

     The exhibition is being held at Xintiandi Style I, a major Hong Kong-based shopping centre in Shanghai, until June 29. Admission is free.  

     Shanghai is the sixth stop of the exhibition, following its successful staging by the ISD in cities on the Mainland, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East between July 2023 and January 2025.

     In addition to the Shanghai ETO, other supporting organisations of the exhibition include the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Hong Kong Talent Engage, Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Kai Tak Sports Park and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.

     More information on the exhibition is available on the dedicated page on the Brand Hong Kong website and the Shanghai ETO website. read more

     Hong Kong Customs today (June 19) held an award presentation ceremony for the Elite Enterprise Partnership Award 2025 at the Customs Headquarters Building to commend 15 stakeholders of the logistics, intellectual property … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (June 19) that a tender of 5-year HKD Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 5-year Government Bond issue 05GB3005002 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

     An additional amount of HK$1.25 billion of the outstanding 5-year Bonds (issue no. 05GB3005002) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on May 15, 2030, and will carry interest at the rate of 2.70 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on June 19, 2025, are 101.75 with an annualised yield of 2.334 per cent.

     Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

     Tender information of re-opening of 5-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (June 19) that a tender of 3-year HKD Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 3-year Government Bond issue 03GB2804001 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

     An additional amount of HK$1.25 billion of the outstanding 3-year Bonds (issue no. 03GB2804001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on April 25, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.76 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on June 19, 2025 are 102.45 with an annualised yield of 1.882 per cent.

     Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

     Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK <GO>) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

     Tender information of re-opening of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds: