Tag Archives: China

     The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), Ms Candy Nip, congratulates the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on the official opening of its New York office today (June 21, New York time).

     Ms Nip said she was delighted to see HKEX expanding its footprint to the largest financial hub in North America. Hong Kong plays an important role in the global financial market. Strengthening connections with North American enterprises is a welcoming move.

     In collaboration with HKETONY, the Asia Society organised a luncheon with the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of HKEX, Mr Nicolas Aguzin, as the featured speaker. Mr Aguzin shared with the audience his insights on Hong Kong’s long-term future as an international financial centre, and its super-connector role between the East and the West.

     In the same evening, Ms Nip attended a reception hosted by HKEX in celebration of its New York office opening.
 

      

     With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival 2023 was held on June 18 (Copenhagen time) in Copenhagen, Denmark; and the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival was held from June 17 to 18 (London time) in Manchester, United Kingdom (UK).
  
     In the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival 2023, 24 teams formed by the Danish community took part in a full day of racing. In addition to spectating the exhilarating competition on the water, sports enthusiasts and families immersed themselves in the culinary and musical highlights by the shore of Copenhagen. 
 
     The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, delivered a virtual speech at the opening ceremony, highlighting that dragon boat racing dates back more than 2000 years, and since Hong Kong held the first international dragon boat competition in 1976, it has developed into a truly global event.
 
     Mr Law added, “We are glad to see that the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese festival which has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009, is also celebrated in Denmark. This festival is equally popular in Hong Kong. The 2023 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will be held next weekend at Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour, with over 160 teams formed by locals and overseas friends. This event demonstrates Hong Kong as a dynamic hub with a unique fusion of tradition and modernity where Eastern and Western cultures seamlessly intertwine, and where we celebrate Eastern and Western festivals with equal enthusiasm.”
 
     The festival was also celebrated in Manchester, UK, where over 55 teams participated in races of various categories during the two-day 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. The local community also took part in a series of cultural experiences by the shore, including Tai Chi demonstrations and Chinese calligraphy lessons.

                

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the HKDI Emerging Design Talents 2023: EMBRACE today (June 21):

Tony (Chairman of Vocational Training Council (VTC), Mr Tony Tai), Donald (Executive Director of the VTC, Mr Donald Tong), Dr Ong (Principal of the Hong Kong Design Institute, Dr Lay Lian Ong), Consul General Ficarra (Consul-General of Italy in Hong Kong, Mr Carmelo Ficarra), distinguished guests, students, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good evening. I’m delighted to join you for the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Design Institute’s annual graduation exhibition and show, “Emerging Design Talents”.
 
     I’m told that this year’s presentation features more than 500 innovative works, created by graduating students at both the high diploma and degree levels from the Institute’s four main departments. And they include, I’m pleased to note, the winning mascot design for Hong Kong’s participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
 
     There is simply so much to see – but the good news is that the exhibition will continue until September 8.
 
     “Embrace” is this year’s theme. For our graduating students, they are about to embrace the next stage in their lives. For those pursuing a career in design, understanding the latest trends, and then taking them in a fresh direction – your direction – is the way to go.
 
     Creativity knows no boundaries, national or otherwise. Embrace diversity, and you’re on your way to creating something entirely new, and yours and, soon enough, ours.
 
     On this note, I am pleased to learn that the Design Institute is helping students gain greater international exposure. This includes working with the Consulate General of Italy and its year-long Viva Italia programme, launched in March. The multi-faceted festival covers a variety of workshops, exhibitions, movies and sessions on Italian culture. My thanks to the Consul-General for partnering with the Design Institute on this inspiring initiative.  
 
     Just a few months ago, I visited the Institute. I spent a good time, an exciting time, with students majoring in fashion and image design, art tech, make-up, modelling and other career studies. I got to see, firsthand, what they do and how they do it.
 
     I was even involved in the shooting of a virtual scene, and tried my bad hand at pattern drafting, tailoring and other skills being taught at the Institute.
 
     What I came away with was an abiding appreciation of the Institute’s experiential, interactive approach to learning – and the passion and attention to detail the students displayed in everything they did.
 
     I am confident that the graduates will thrive in their careers, and no doubt that Hong Kong and our creative industries will be better because of them – and because of the Design Institute’s passionate commitment to education and professional training.
 
     The Institute, of course, is part of the Vocational Training Council. For more than 40 years, the VTC has been a close working partner of the Government in promoting vocational and professional education and training, or VPET, in a wide range of sectors, from the flourishing creative industries of design and fashion, to our outstanding food and beverage industry.
 
     In recent years, the Government has attached even greater importance to VPET. We are determined to help young people realise their potential, and are offering them multiple career pathways to do so.
 
     It’s why, in my Budget this year, I supported the VTC’s launching of a two-year pilot project, starting this coming academic year. It will give secondary school students early exposure to VPET. We will also offer a Diploma of Applied Education Programme this September. And, together with the VTC, industry and other stakeholders, we are exploring additional programmes.
  
     Our goal is clear and compelling: to give our youths a wealth of career choices and life prospects. In doing so, we create more possibilities for our economy, for our community, for all of us. I count on the continuing good work of the VTC and the Hong Kong Design Institute to help get us there.
 
     To this year’s graduates, I wish each and every one of you a rewarding career and a fulfilling future. Hong Kong is with you all the way. Thank you.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹In response to media enquiries about recent circulation of products with the logo of Castle Peak Hospital (CPH) on the social media, the spokesperson for CPH made the following reply:
      
     CPH has never produced such products, nor has it authorised anyone to use CPH’s logo to produce such products. These products do not have any relationship with CPH.
      
     No one is allowed to use the name or logo of CPH to produce any product without permission. CPH has referred the case to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow up.
      
     CPH appealed to the public to consider the feelings of others when making comments on the Internet, and to understand mental health issues with a positive attitude. read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 20) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the southeast waters of Hong Kong and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a barge. About 37 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $3.7 million were seized.

     Customs conducted an anti-smuggling operation and spotted a suspicious barge in the waters off Tung Lung Island yesterday night. Several men on the barge, suspected of participating in smuggling activities, were unloading a batch of goods onto a cargo vessel. Customs officers immediately took action and intercepted the cargo vessel, the barge and a tugboat. The batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat was seized on board the cargo vessel and the barge.

     During the operation, 10 men, aged between 31 and 68, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs is the primary agency responsible for the suppression of smuggling activities and has all along been combating various smuggling activities proactively at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).