Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) welcomed the Chinese New Year with cheer and greetings in Berlin, Germany, on February 21 (Berlin time). Marking the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, the Chinese New Year is an important festival to celebrate, seek good fortune and blessings, and enjoy time with families and friends.
 
     The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. With the beginning of the year on February 5, it is the pig, with character traits such as amicability, compassion and generosity.
 
     In his welcome speech at the reception, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, looked back at some of Hong Kong’s achievements in the past year including the opening of two major mega infrastructure projects, namely the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, adding new highlights to Asia’s world city. Both will significantly boost Hong Kong’s connectivity and integration with the Mainland.
 
     “Hong Kong’s unique strengths will further enhance our city’s status as the financial and innovation hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and bring forward long-term development opportunities for promoting sustainable growth in commerce, professional services, technology, tourism and culture,” Mr Li added.
 
     Business relations between Hong Kong and Germany have been strong and ever growing, with Germany continuing to be Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in the European Union. Elaborating on HKETO Berlin’s activities, Mr Li said, “On the ground, our Office participates actively in major events in Berlin, including the Asia-Pacific Week and IFA. On this solid foundation, a new trend of collaboration in innovation and research has just begun. In particular, the opening of an Invention Centre in Hong Kong by the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in October 2018 signifies a new chapter of partnership in the application of Industry 4.0. Furthermore, German technologies in electronic and electrical waste treatment as well as tunnel air filter systems have successfully set foot in Hong Kong.”
 
     From a global perspective, the rise of protectionism and trade friction in recent years might have cast a shadow over the world economy. Nonetheless, Mr Li emphasised that he was upbeat on Hong Kong. “Thanks to our competitiveness and adaptability, as well as our long-standing embrace of free and unfettered trade, Hong Kong can turn some of those global challenges into new opportunities,” Mr Li said in closing his speech.

     Following the Chinese New Year receptions organised by HKETO Berlin in Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt, more are to come in Munich, Zurich, Warsaw, Vienna, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Budapest, Dusseldorf and Prague in the weeks ahead.
 
About HKETO Berlin
 
     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

        

     Police today (February 22) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Hung Hom.      Chan Ko, aged 83, went missing after he left his residence in Oi Man Estate yesterda… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session after attending a public function today (February 22): Reporter: Secretary, can you clarify whether the consulate off… read more

     The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) held a joint seminar today (February 22) for the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme participants on their business advantages from the Mainland-Hong Kong AEO Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) under the context of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Belt and Road Initiative.

     Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Director General of the Department of Enterprise Management and Audit-Based Control of the GACC Mr Zhu Fang gave a briefing to the audience on how the status as an AEO helps in exploring business opportunities under the two development plans.

     Under the current MRA with the Mainland, the average inspection rate for Hong Kong AEO cargo entering or leaving the Mainland, including the GBA, is 80 per cent less as compared with non-AEO counterparts. A substantially reduced examination rate and prioritised clearance could help the companies in reducing operating costs, strengthening competitiveness and marketability, and exploring the unlimited business opportunities in the markets of the Belt and Road region.

     The MRA between the Mainland and Hong Kong was signed in October 2013 to raise the level of supply chain security management and speed up clearance efficiency. It reinforces Hong Kong’s advantages as an international logistics hub and confirms its role and function as one of the powerhouses in leading the regional development under the GBA development plan. 

     During the event today, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Excise and Strategic Support), Mr Jimmy Tam, also presented certificates to six new members of the AEO Programme. The newly accredited members are Hong Kong enterprises mainly engaged in import and export business.

     Since its implementation in 2012, the number of companies accredited as AEOs under the programme has now risen to 50.

     Mr Tam said that the department would develop along the policy agenda of smart customs clearance described in the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address under the four-pronged smart customs blueprint covering “application”, “research and development”, “analysis” and “fortification” to fulfil fully the new roles of “facilitator” and “promoter” as advocated by the current-term Government. Ways of refining the AEO Programme will also be explored so that a more business-friendly environment can be created, foreign investment can be attracted and enterprises will go global.

     It was also announced at the ceremony that the MRA between Hong Kong and New Zealand signed during the 132nd Council Session of the World Customs Organization in Brussels, Belgium, last June started implementation today.

     Currently, the C&ED has ratified MRAs with nine Customs administrations of the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, among which seven are along the Belt and Road region, making the advantages of Hong Kong AEOs in exploring the markets there especially outstanding. MRAs with Canada, Israel and Mexico will also be concluded later this year.

     About 140 guests, including consuls and customs attachés, as well as representatives from Hong Kong AEO members, trade associations and private sector stakeholders, attended the seminar and the ceremony.

      

     â€‹The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Youth Development Commission (YDC), Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme 2019 today (February 22). The Programme aims at identifying and nurturing more young talents with commitment and passion in serving the community. One hundred Youth Ambassadors (YAs) will join a series of core skills training sessions and have chances to represent Hong Kong to participate in large-scale and international activities, with a view to enriching their understanding of Hong Kong society and public affairs. Through cultivating their skills such as teamwork, logical thinking and leadership skills, the YAs can develop their strengths and contribute to society.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Cheung said that youth development is one of the priority policy areas of the current-term Government. The Government is committed to nurturing Hong Kong youths into becoming future pillars of society with an affection for Hong Kong, a sense of national identity, an international perspective and a commitment to society. The Government set up the YDC last year to enhance policy co-ordination within the Government to enable more holistic and effective examination and discussion of issues of concern to young people, especially issues relating to youth education, career pursuit and home ownership, as well as the participation of young people in politics and their engagement in public policy discussion and debate.
 
     Mr Cheung said he hoped that the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme organised by the YDC can identify and nurture more young talents with vision, creativity, commitment and passion to serve the community. He also expressed the hope that the YAs could seize the opportunities and actively participate in activities organised by the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme to deepen their understanding of Hong Kong, the country and the world, upgrade their skills, broaden their horizons and prepare themselves for taking up different posts in society in future so as to contribute to the continued development of Hong Kong.
 
     The YDC Youth Ambassadors Alumni Association has also been set up. The Association provides a platform for the YAs of previous years to continue to serve the community and keep in close contact with each other. They can also help promote the Programme or other work of the YDC. As buddies of the new YAs, the YA alumni can inspire the new YAs through discussing their experience and pass the baton to their successors. Through the Association, YAs of previous years can continue their active participation in large-scale government events as well as social services activities organised by the new YAs.
 
     Also officiating at the kick-off ceremony today was the Vice-chairman of the YDC, Mr Lau Ming-wai. Other attending guests included members of the YDC, representatives from the organisations which had nominated the YAs and 51 YA alumni.
 
     In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Government recruited a group of YAs in 2017 through the Youth Ambassadors in Celebration of the Establishment of the HKSAR Programme and provided them with opportunities for training and participation in local and overseas celebration activities. In view of the remarkable results, the Home Affairs Bureau and the YDC decided to regularise the programme starting from this year and recruit 100 YAs each year. All YAs shall receive dedicated training, including core skills training, and will have visits and exchanges outside Hong Kong. Arrangements will be made for them to participate in large-scale or international events and activities organised by government bureaux and departments, such as international conferences, exhibitions and celebration events. The YAs will also be tasked to organise social service activities for the community. Those with outstanding performance will be selected to receive advanced training from acclaimed tertiary institutes outside Hong Kong.
 
     For more information on the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme 2019, please visit the YDC’s webpage (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ambassadors).