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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 15) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (February 15). They are, on Hong Kong Island, End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation; in Kowloon, Hong Kong & Macau Lutheran Church Social Service Limited; and in the New Territories, Pentecostal Church of Hong Kong, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.

     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people to distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    

     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on February 15 is as follows:
 

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/ngo/controlofc/flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD's hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.

     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added.

     â€‹Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA) collaborated a spring reception today (February 14) receiving over 1 000 guests in recognition of Mainland enterprises' lasting commitment and contributions to the city, while celebrating the Chinese New Year.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG), Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau; and the Chairman of the HKCEA, Mr Wang Haimin, attended the event.

     Addressing the guests, Mr Lee thanked the HKCEA for consistently uniting Mainland enterprises to contribute to Hong Kong's economy, and serving the society in various fields. In the new year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to embrace change and strive for innovation, fostering Hong Kong's stable development with positive momentum, while also driving the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis for economic growth.

     Mr Zheng said 2025 marks the closing year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and is a pivotal year for Hong Kong to accelerate its transition from governance to prosperity. The HKCEA, as an important platform for uniting Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong, will leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying strong support of the Central Government and being closely connected to the world, to drive the prosperity and stability for Hong Kong.

     Mr Wang stated that over the past year, the country's economy has continued to recover, and Hong Kong has made significant progress in governance and development, further strengthening its status as an international financial center. The HKCEA will actively support Hong Kong and strengthen trade co-operation between the two regions. It will take concrete actions to boost the "mega event economy" while supporting grassroots citizens and youth to grow.

     The annual spring reception marks an important occasion for InvestHK and the HKCEA. The number of Mainland enterprise in Hong Kong has been on the rise. In 2024, InvestHK assisted 273 Mainland enterprises setting up or expanding in the city, which represents the largest source market in the department's portfolio.

        

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) held a Chinese New Year reception in Berlin, Germany, on February 13 (Berlin time) to celebrate the Year of the Snake. About 160 guests including government officials, senior diplomats and leading figures of the political, business and cultural sectors of Germany attended the reception.

     In her welcome remarks, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Ms Jenny Szeto, briefed the guests on Hong Kong's encouraging achievements during the past year. "Despite the challenges of a global economic slowdown, Hong Kong's economy grew by 2.5 per cent in 2024, and we rose again to third place in the Global Financial Centres Index, setting the stage for a strong start to the year."

     Ms Szeto also highlighted various initiatives that consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international centre in the eight key areas. She added that with the implementation of further liberalisation measures under the amended Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, Hong Kong's unique advantages as a gateway to Mainland China, would be further enhanced. Complemented by other facilitating initiatives such as multiple-entry visas for foreign staff of Hong Kong-registered companies, the investment, trade and people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and the Central and Eastern European countries will continue to be strengthened.

     HKETO Berlin also hosted a reception in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic on February 12 (Bratislava time) in co-operation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Six other receptions will be organised in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland. 

     To promote the excellent work of Hong Kong artists abroad, HKETO Berlin has invited Hong Kong artists including Hong Kong dance group R&T (Rhythm & Tempo) and the Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base), to perform at the receptions and showcase the vibrancy, diversity and creativity of Hong Kong's East-meets-West culture.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

      

     â€‹Invest Hong Kong announced today (February 14) that Mainland karaoke chain brand Mei KTV opened its first Hong Kong flagship store in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, bringing another valuable addition to Hong Kong's vibrant leisure and entertainment industry. The Hong Kong flagship store will be managed by their design team from Singapore, blending local characteristics to craft an entertainment space that caters to Hong Kong people's preferences. The venue features luxurious karaoke rooms, a full-screen display and performance stage alongside innovative and interactive facilities such as a virtual DJ mixing station.
      
     The Director-General of Investment Promotion for Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "We welcome Mei KTV for choosing Hong Kong to open its flagship store and using the city as a platform for international expansion. Many companies choose to establish in Hong Kong to enhance their brand's international standing. The operational experience gained here can also be replicated in other markets to support their further expansion. I wish Mei KTV great success in Hong Kong and beyond."
      
     Co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Mei KTV, Mr Tang Hong Wei, explained the rationale behind choosing Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is an important market and the birthplace for Chinese pop music; opening a store in Hong Kong will provide a music-themed social space for more music enthusiasts. Hong Kong, as an important bridge connecting the Mainland with international markets, will make Mei KTV's flagship store a benchmark for its overseas business. We plan to use this as a base to gradually expand into Southeast Asian markets like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, and establish a regional office here in the future."
      
     He added, "As of 2024, Mei KTV has opened nearly 800 stores nationwide, covering over 100 cities on the Mainland. Our parent company also plans to be listed in Hong Kong, which is a significant driving factor behind our investment in the region."
      
     Mei KTV is a karaoke chain brand which strives to blend innovative technology with entertainment experiences, primarily targeting the young market. With a core mission to "create joy through technology", Mei KTV has integrated cutting-edge technologies such as AI and virtual reality into traditional karaoke, and launched innovative features such as AI-powered sound correction and metaverse music video production to provide customers with an immersive entertainment experience.
      
     For more information about Mei KTV, please visit www.meiktv.com.
      
     For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720323789874.