Tag Archives: China

     â€‹The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, began his visit to Beijing today (March 27).
      
     Mr Yau called on the China National Intellectual Property Administration this morning to meet with Deputy Commissioner Mr Zhang Zhicheng to deepen co-operation and exchanges in the field of intellectual property (IP). Mr Yau said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has spared no effort in protecting IP rights and promoting IP trading to develop Hong Kong into a regional IP trading centre, with a view to giving full play to its unique advantage of connecting both the Mainland and the world, while at the same time facilitating the development of new quality productive forces, in particular fostering the further development of innovation and technology as well as creative industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
 
　　In the afternoon, Mr Yau separately called on the Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Fan Shijie, and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Ran Bo to update them on the latest trade and economic developments in Hong Kong and exchange views on the new global political and economic landscape.
 
     Mr Yau said that in the face of uncertainties brought about by geopolitics, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantages under “one country, two systems” to actively expand economic and trade networks and step up efforts in attracting enterprises and investment, including exploring emerging markets along the Belt and Road, to strengthen and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international trade centre. In addition, as the most international city in the GBA, Hong Kong will deepen international exchanges and co-operation to enhance influence and competitiveness, thereby contributing to the country’s high-quality development and serving the country’s needs.
 
　　Mr Yau will continue his visit to Beijing tomorrow (March 28).

    

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, launched at the inaugural Bloomberg Family Office Summit today (March 27) the Hong Kong Family Office Nexus Digital Knowledge Hub for family offices as part of the Hong Kong Family Office Nexus initiative. Mr Hui said that this new digital platform will help family offices remain at the forefront of wealth management innovation, and enable them to thrive in Hong Kong, where private wealth meets opportunities in Asia.
 
     The Hong Kong Family Office Nexus is an initiative announced last October. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL) and Bloomberg LP have joined forces to deliver a series of projects and resources to support Hong Kong’s family office sector. The Digital Knowledge Hub launched today is a go-to resource dedicated for family offices in Hong Kong and around the world, bringing them the latest information covering community building, knowledge sharing, technology support and philanthropic collaboration.
 
     Content ranging from expert insights and industry best practices to practical guidance on investment strategies, governance, technology adoption and philanthropy, as well as reports and events worthy of family offices’ attention will be updated from time to time on the Digital Knowledge Hub. Apart from carefully curated content, registered members can also access exclusive content through this dedicated database for the family office community.
 
     Mr Hui said, “With this knowledge hub, we are not just providing information; we are building a dynamic, evolving resource tailored to the needs of family offices. Whether it is navigating emerging investment trends, leveraging technology, or deepening philanthropic impacts, this platform will serve as a trusted guide. Family offices are shaping the future of global wealth management, and Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to support their growth. We look forward to seeing family offices thrive in Hong Kong and contribute to the broader financial and philanthropic landscape.”
 
     Head of Asia Pacific at Bloomberg, Mr Bing Li, said, “Hong Kong is fast becoming one of the world’s most attractive destinations for new and growing family offices. We are proud to work with the FSTB, InvestHK and the HKAWL to ensure that the family office community is well supported with the data, insights and knowledge they need to keep succeeding – and keep making a positive impact – in Hong Kong and beyond. The knowledge hub is a small but important step in providing that support.”
 
     The joint initiative of the Hong Kong Family Office Nexus was forged following a meeting in New York between Mr Hui and the founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mr Michael Bloomberg, in April last year. The meeting was held to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for family offices and philanthropic activity.
 
     At the same summit, Mr Hui also joined an exclusive discussion for leading family offices to present to them how they can leverage Hong Kong’s professional services and philanthropy network to bring social impacts. The discussion was an event hosted under a new strategic collaboration between the HKAWL and Bloomberg to support family offices’ philanthropic efforts.

        

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) introduced the key initiatives for promoting cybersecurity this year at the 2025 Cybersecurity Initiatives Briefing today (March 27). Representatives from the Cyber ​​Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation (HKIRC) and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) also shared the latest trends in cybercrime and a series of measures to strengthen capability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on cybersecurity defence.

     The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said that as smart technologies become increasingly prevalent, enterprises are relying more on information systems for their operations. This growing dependence necessitates a heightened focus on cybersecurity to strengthen defences against emerging threats to avoid reputational and financial losses. In introducing the cybersecurity initiatives co-ordinated by the DPO this year, Mr Wong said in addition to the ongoing collaborations with the CSTCB, HKIRC, HKCERT and various stakeholders to provide local enterprises (in particular SMEs) with information security incident response support, issue security threat alerts, offer preventive guidelines and security education, and continue to strengthen the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill, the DPO will also co-ordinate with the HKIRC and HKCERT to launch two new initiatives, the Cybersec One Programme and the Cybersecurity Vendor Connect Programme, to further raise SMEs’ awareness of information security and support them in addressing cybersecurity risks.

     The Chief Superintendent of the CSTCB, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, announced the latest technology crime figures at the briefing. A total of 33 903 cases were recorded in 2024, representing a slight decrease of 0.6 per cent when compared to 2023. The data shows that while the majority of technology crimes are Internet-related deception, some also involve cyberattacks against enterprises, including system intrusions, distributed denial of service (DDoS) and ransomware. Mr Lam emphasised that in the face of rampant cybercrimes, the Police will not only continue to strengthen law enforcement but also adopt a multipronged approach to promote Hong Kong’s cybersecurity, including assisting the Government in taking forward the legislation, raising public awareness and strengthening public-private collaborations.

     At the briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the HKIRC, Mr Wilson Wong, introduced some common website vulnerabilities. He noted that although patching vulnerabilities promptly can reduce losses, once a brand’s reputation is damaged, regaining customer confidence can become very difficult. He called on organisations to register for the services of the Cybersec One Programme, which provides free risk assessments, vulnerability identification, and staff training to enhance information security of organisations. The General Manager of Digital Transformation Division, Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and spokesperson of the HKCERT, Mr Alex Chan, also pointed out that SMEs are generally facing challenges such as insufficient cybersecurity expertise and budget and resource constraints. He added that the HKCERT will launch the Cybersecurity Vendor Connect Programme to help organisations find suitable and cost-effective cybersecurity solutions.

     In conclusion, Mr Tony Wong emphasised that cybersecurity is not just an issue to individual sectors; it also affects the health and stability of Hong Kong’s overall digital economy and social development. It is a task that all sectors and the public need to pay attention to and participate in. The DPO will continue to launch a variety of activities and provide training to enhance Hong Kong’s overall capabilities to tackle risks in cybersecurity, and he appealed for media support in jointly disseminating important cybersecurity messages to the general public.

    

    The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (March 27) that, with effect from March 31 (Monday), the eligible age for Hong Kong permanent residents holding a smart identity card to use the e-Channel service will be adjusted to seven… read more

　　The “Great Music 2025”, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, returns this year with star-studded performances running from June to November. Renowned musicians and ensembles from all over the world will come to Hong Kong to perform an array of programmes, showcasing the city as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
 
　　Details of the June and July programmes are as follows:
 
“Piano Recital by Mikhail Pletnev”
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Date and time: June 17 (Tuesday), 8pm
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Ticket prices: $320 to $920
 
　　The legendary pianist Mikhail Pletnev returns to Hong Kong after a hiatus of 10 years. Universally recognised as one of the finest pianists of our time, Pletnev will be presenting a solo recital, delighting music fans with a curated selection of piano sonatas by Beethoven and short pieces from the “Lyric Pieces Book” by Grieg.
 
“Concert by the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker”
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Date and time: July 9 (Wednesday), 8pm
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Ticket prices: $350 to $1,150
 
　　The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker will make their first appearance in Hong Kong. This unique ensemble is as renowned for their versatility as for their musical mastery. In this concert, they will perform a diverse repertoire ranging from classical, tango, jazz and spiritual to French chansons and film scores, shining a new light on the classics with an incredible sense of musical unity.
 
　　Tickets for “Piano Recital by Mikhail Pletnev” and “Concert by the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker” will be available from April 3 (Thursday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1840.html.
 
　　In addition to the above-mentioned programmes, the “Great Music 2025” will feature more notable programmes from September to November, namely the “Piano Recital by Nikolai Lugansky” on September 14 at Hong Kong City Hall, “Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Roma” concert on November 20 and 21 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as the “Duo Recital by Mischa Maisky (Cello) and Lily Maisky (Piano)” on November 22 at Hong Kong City Hall. Programme details and booking schedules will be announced later. Music fans should stay tuned.