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 today (March 7) that the red tide … read more
     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Cheung Sha Wan yesterday (March 6), in which a 56-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man died.      At 10.05pm, a motorcycle driven by the 56-year-old man was travelling along Lin C… read more
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) and the Finland-Hong Kong Business Association co-hosted a Year of the Dragon lunch reception in Helsinki, Finland, on March 5 (Helsinki time).
In his welcome speech, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, shared with the Finnish community the latest updates on Hong Kong, including key initiatives announced in the 2024-25 Budget of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and highlighted Hong Kong’s determination to attract enterprises, capital and talent.
“With Hong Kong’s institutional advantages under ‘one country, two systems’ and our highly international characteristics, Hong Kong is the ideal city for enterprises, capital and talent. By next month, 10-plus strategic enterprises will sign a partnership agreement with our Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises. Together with the 30 companies from the first batch that have already confirmed they are setting up or expanding businesses in Hong Kong, or have plans to do so, these enterprises are expected to bring about over $40 billion in investment to Hong Kong, creating about 13 000 jobs over the next few years. We invite Finnish businesses to explore the immense business opportunities in Hong Kong,” he said.
​The reception was well attended by over 60 guests, including representatives from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, as well as from the local business, academic and cultural sectors. The London ETO will continue to celebrate the Year of the Dragon among the countries under its purview.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to visit Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 6 (Dubai time).
Professor Sun and the delegation attended a business luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai where he spoke to about 120 guests from local government of the UAE and businesses, particularly from leaders and executives of the UAE’s I&T community. In his keynote speech, Professor Sun said that Hong Kong and the UAE have a lot in common, including the vision to develop a diversified and sustainable economy and to become a leading I&T centre in the regions. He also said that as a “super value-adder”, Hong Kong makes good use of the distinctive advantage of being “backed by the motherland, and connected to the world” to create value in enhancing mutually beneficial partnership with friends in the international community.
Shortly before the luncheon, Professor Sun had a brief exchange about I&T development in Hong Kong and the UAE with the Under Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry of the UAE Ministry of Economy, Mr Abdulla Al Saleh, who also attended the occasion.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun and the delegation visited the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation Hub to meet with its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mohammad Alblooshi, to learn about the latest development of DIFC as one of the fintech centres and innovation hubs in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions, and the innovation hub’s work in fostering the transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship of the fintech sector.
Professor Sun also met with the Minister of State for Advanced Technology of the UAE, Ms Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri. In the meeting, both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen co-operation in I&T and new industrialisation between the two places, and hoped to further enhance exchange and pragmatic collaboration in advanced technology of the industries.
Upon arrival in Dubai on March 5, Professor Sun and the delegation visited the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park to learn how the park provides an enabling environment for the development and management of innovative ecosystems, and supports collaboration between government, industry and academia to promote research and development and entrepreneurial innovation. He also visited the park’s innovation laboratory, namely SOI Lab, and data centre.
Professor Sun then called on the acting Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, Mr Liu Zhengjie, and briefed him on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s efforts in leading the city to realise its vision of becoming an international I&T hub.
Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives from more than ten technology enterprises in the two I&T flagships and relevant industries.
Professor Sun and the delegation left for Abu Dhabi, the UAE in the afternoon of March 6 to continue the visit. read more
Hong Kong Customs held an inauguration ceremony of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Dog Training Centre (RDTC) today (March 6). The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; and the WCO Director for Compliance and Facilitation, Mr Pranab Kumar Das.
About 150 guests, including around 100 delegation members from the Mainland and overseas Customs Administrations attending the 6th WCO Global Canine Forum, and 50 guests comprising officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Consuls-General, foreign Customs attachés and local working partners, attended the inauguration ceremony.
The participants also visited the newly established RDTC at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Hong Kong Port), where they had the opportunity to watch detector dog demonstrations, tour the kennels and facilities for canine breeding and training, and interact with eight 3-month-old puppies that were bred in collaboration with the Fire Services Department.
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As an RDTC, Hong Kong Customs will continue to promote co-operation and development in the international canine training field, and work together with the WCO to enhance the overall capabilities of global detector dog teams.
