Tag Archives: China

     In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2023 published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Hong Kong was ranked seventh globally. 

     Among the four competitiveness factors in WCY 2023, Hong Kong continued to rank second globally in “Government efficiency”, and our ranking in “Infrastructure” also improved. Yet, due to the epidemic upsurge last year, our ranking in “Business efficiency” fell slightly. Our ranking in “Economic performance” dropped as the Hong Kong economy weakened notably and recorded negative growth in 2022. As regards the sub-factors, Hong Kong continued to top the ranking in “Business legislation”, and was amongst the top-five in “Tax policy”, “International investment”, “International trade” and “Technological infrastructure”.
 
     A Government spokesperson said today (June 20), “The IMD’s WCY 2023 recognised that Hong Kong continued to be one of the most competitive economies in the world. Hong Kong’s competitiveness is underpinned by our distinctive institutional strengths under ‘One Country, Two Systems’’ including the continuation of the common law system, the exercise of independent judicial power by the Judiciary, a favourable business environment with efficient and transparent markets, a regulatory regime in line with international rules, an efficient and clean government, a simple and low tax system, world-class professional services, and free flow of goods and factors of production including talents, capital and information, etc. Last year, the COVID-19 epidemic posed daunting challenges to Hong Kong and weighed heavily on our economic performance. As a result, Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness ranking fell by two places from the preceding year. As Hong Kong resumes normalcy and restores full connectivity to the Mainland and the rest of the world, Hong Kong’s economy will improve notably this year.”

     The spokesperson added, “While Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness ranking remained at the forefront in WCY 2023, and our slight fall in ranking was mainly dragged down by the epidemic upsurge and weak economy last year, we should stay vigilant of the increasingly intense competition among economies and respond proactively, striving to further enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Since taking office, the new-term of HKSAR Government has been promoting a better integration of ‘capable government’ and ‘highly efficient market’. Aside from upholding Hong Kong’s institutional strengths and competitive advantages, we have implemented strategies to ‘compete for talents and enterprises’ with a view to attracting strategic enterprises as well as talents and capital from around the world, stepped up investment in infrastructure as well as innovation and technology, and continued to increase land and housing supply, in order to expand capacity for the sustained growth of Hong Kong’s economy and pursuit of high-quality development. Work in these areas has made good progress.”
 
     “Moving forward, Hong Kong will continue to benefit from the sustained eastward shift of global economic gravity. Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Hong Kong will leverage the staunch support of our Motherland while staying connected to the world, and continue to serve our distinctive roles as a gateway, a springboard and an intermediary by virtue of our distinctive institutional and geographical advantages. We will actively align with national development strategies, seize the opportunities arising from the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to pursue economic development and enhance people’s quality of life.” 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 toda… read more

　    The exhibition “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Joan Miró – The Poetry of Everyday Life” now being held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) has been well received by the public since its opening in early March. To allow more visitors to view the masterpieces by Spanish modern art master Joan Miró, the exhibition period will be extended until July 2. Members of the public are encouraged to grasp the opportunity to visit the exhibition at the HKMoA.
 
     Miró is one of the most renowned Spanish artists in the 20th century. Along with Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, Miró is known as one of the three greats of Spanish modern art. He had a profound influence on modern art. Miró’s love for all kinds of everyday objects and their intrinsic poetic qualities is apparent throughout his long and fruitful career, turning ordinary objects into extraordinary art.
 
     This exhibition is one of the rare large-scale retrospective exhibitions of Miró in Hong Kong in recent years and this is the very first time Fundació Joan Miró (FJM), the art institution which was founded by the Spanish master himself, holds an exhibition in Hong Kong. All the 94 Miró’s artworks are on display in Hong Kong for the first time, 80 per cent are exhibited in Asia for the first time and 11 of them are even loaned for the very first time from FJM, including the painting “Woman in front of the Moon” in 1976 and the lithograph Mannequins “Fashion Show Series, 1969”. The rich exhibits include paintings, sculptures, drawings, textiles, lithographs, posters created by Miró in different ages, and audio-visual materials that are related to him. Showcasing his breakthroughs and achievements in different art media, the exhibition offers audiences a retrospective look at Miró’s creative career.
 
     Complementing the exhibition with a unique Hong Kong viewpoint, the HKMoA has invited Hong Kong artists GayBird, Leelee Chan to create artworks inspired by the everyday life, and the curatorial team works with illustrator Zoie Lam to create education booklet and illustrations with AR characters. Showcasing artworks by Zao Wou-ki, Wu Guanzhong, Luis Chan and Ha Bik-chuen from the Museum’s own collection, it highlights the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western artists in the comprehension of abstract art.
 
     The exhibition is held at the Special Gallery on the second floor of the HKMoA (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon). The admission fees for this exhibition are $30 for standard tickets, $20 for group tickets (groups of 20 persons or more) and $15 for full-time students, people with disabilities (and one accompanying minder) and senior citizens aged 60 or above. Tickets for the exhibition are available up to 7 days in advance at all URBTIX outlets and self-service ticketing kiosks at HKMoA or other designated locations. Holders of Museum Passes can enjoy free admission to this exhibition.
 
     The exhibition is solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and jointly organised by the HKMoA and the Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/the-hong-kong-jockey-club-series-joan-miro-the-poetry-of-everyday-life.html or call 2721 0116 for enquiries.

            

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that part of the first floor of Aberdeen Market is undergoing inspection and maintenance works while market services remain normal.   &… read more

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 19) visited Shenzhen and met with the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Qin Weizhong. They exchanged views on co-operation in areas such as financial services, trade and commerce, and innovation and technology, and discussed further strengthening collaboration on attracting enterprises and investments as well as faciliting trade, with a view to assisting enterprises of the two cities to go global and attracting foreign investments together. They also discussed expediting the development of the Loop and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park on both sides of the Shenzhen River.
 
     Mr Chan said at the meeting that Hong Kong and Shenzhen are the dual engine that powers the economic development and technology and innovation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, bringing together outstanding enterprises, people and capital. The two cities could together contribute to the high-level self-reliance and greater strength in science and technology as well as the high-quality development of the country. He also said that there is plenty of room for collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in a wide range of areas.
 
     Mr Chan also visited an enterprise that develops and manufactures high-end surgical robots and medical equipment, and a maritime enterprise that employs cutting-edge intelligent technologies, to understand the relevant industries and potential for development. He also explained Hong Kong’s policies for attracting enterprises, investments and talent.
 
     Accompanying Mr Chan on the visit included the Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Mr Philip Yung, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, Miss Linda So, and others.