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Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement to open new doors for Australian exporters
Widespread benefits for Australian farmers, businesses and investors are one step closer with the enabling legislation for major trade deals with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru passing through the Parliament on 26 November. Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Mr Simon Birmingham, said Australian businesses and farmers would soon be able to access new export opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region thanks to these new free trade agreements. “These trade deals will mean more market access for our farmers, greater opportunities for our businesses, more jobs and increased investment for Australia,” Minister Birmingham said. The Australian Government will now move quickly to complete the final few ratification processes for these three trade deals before the end of the year.
Read more here. |
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Boon for Hong Kong services under CEPA
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and China’s Ministry of Commerce agreed to enhance the level of liberalisation on trade in services of the Mainland for Hong Kong under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). The Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services (Amendment Agreement), signed on 21 November, updates the commitments on liberalisation and facilitation of trade in services under the Agreement on Trade in Services implemented in June 2016. It lowers the market access thresholds in the Mainland for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals. The Amendment Agreement introduces new liberalisation measures in sectors such as financial services, legal services, construction and related engineering services, testing and certification, television, motion pictures and tourism services, making it easier for Hong Kong service suppliers to set up enterprises and develop business in the Mainland, allowing more Hong Kong professionals to obtain qualifications to practise in the Mainland, and allowing more of Hong Kong’s quality services to be provided to the Mainland market. The Amendment Agreement will be implemented on June 1, 2020.
Read more here. |
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Nearly 200 Hong Kong enterprises join China International Import Expo
To demonstrate the city’s edge as the leading international commerce and trading platform in Asia and its role in bringing in foreign investment to the Mainland, Hong Kong set up a Hong Kong Exhibition Area themed “Hong Kong In” inside the China Pavilion of the Country Pavilion for Trade and Investment at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened on 5 November in Shanghai. Nearly 200 Hong Kong enterprises participated in the Enterprise and Business Exhibition to tap new business opportunities. The Chief Executive of HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the opening ceremony of the CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum on 5 November. She introduced the theme and content of the Hong Kong Exhibition Area to Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of other countries and governments during their visit to the China Pavilion. More multimedia and interactive elements have been added to the Hong Kong Exhibition Area this year, such as curved projection screens, an interactive table and holograms to make the exhibition more lively and interesting. Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Mr Simon Birmingham, led Australia’s delegation at the CIIE. More than 200 Australian companies attended this year’s event, spanning across a range of sectors from food and agriculture to medicines and healthcare.
Read more here. |
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16 policy measures to facilitate the development of the Greater Bay Area
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the meeting of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Leading Group) as a member on 6 November in Beijing. The meeting was hosted and convened by the Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, to discuss and plan for priority areas of work for the next stage of the development of the Greater Bay Area. At the meeting, Mrs Lam reported Hong Kong's work since the second plenary meeting of the Leading Group in five key areas, namely innovation and technology, infrastructural connectivity, finance, meteorology and commerce. She also outlined the future work focuses in these areas. Mrs Lam welcomed the 16 policy measures introduced by the Central Government after the Leading Group meeting, which would benefit people from all walks of life, or facilitate the development of various sectors in the Greater Bay Area. These measures would offer further convenience to Hongkongers developing their careers, working and living in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, as well as enhance the convenient flow of people, goods and capital within the Greater Bay Area.
Read more here about the 16 policy measures. |
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Fintech Week 2019 draws industry leaders from 60 economies
The fourth annual Hong Kong Fintech Week ended on 8 November after five packed days that combined innovation lab visits, industry-driven side events and education, with a showpiece event at AsiaWorld-Expo comprising sessions on key aspects of financial technology, including virtual banks and future technologies, with regulator announcements, presentations, curated networking and the FintechHK Global Competition. All the Fintech Week events were set against the bigger picture of Hong Kong's relationship with Shenzhen and the rest of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Presented by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Fintech Week drew more than 12,000 attendees from over 60 economies, more than 250 world-class speakers and over 150 exhibitors and start-ups, and featured thousands of business meetings. The global nature of the event was clearly evident throughout, with 10 unicorns from around the world, plus 18 trade delegations.
Read more here. |
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Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference connects and exchanges innovative ideas
Speaking at the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference (ALMC) on 19 November, the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, said the Conference had served as a pivotal platform for global logistics and maritime industry leaders to connect, and to exchange innovative ideas on how the industry can excel. He said the trading and logistics industries have always been Hong Kong’s top economic pillars. Together, they account for 21 per cent of Hong Kong’s GDP and 19 per cent of Hong Kong’s total employment. He noted that the Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting free trade and maintaining a level playing field for all, and spare no effort in honing Hong Kong’s competitive edge.
Read more here. |
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HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong section project wins ICE Peoples’s Choice Awards
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Section project, comprising the HZMB Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) and Hong Kong Port (HKP), was awarded on 12 November the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) People’s Choice Award 2019 for its remarkable achievement in project management and contribution to the enhancement of regional transportation networks. This is the first time that a major Hong Kong infrastructure project has won the award. The ICE People's Choice Award is a leading industry award for projects that have had a transformative effect on the built environment.
Read more here. |
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Hong Kong House welcomes over 680 visitors during Sydney Open
Hong Kong House, the home of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (HKETO), participated in Sydney Open once again on 3 November to open its doors for public visits. The HKETO welcomed more than 680 visitors during the event. Presented by Sydney Living Museums, the annual event provides an opportunity for lovers of architecture and historic buildings to access spaces normally off limits to the public for them to appreciate some of Sydney’s most architecturally and historically significant buildings. During the open day, photos showing Hong Kong House's history were displayed, along with promotional videos and exhibition panels about the latest developments of Hong Kong. In addition, souvenirs with Hong Kong characteristics were given away to visitors to further promote Asia’s world city.
Read more here. |
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Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival (Hong Kong)
The first Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival, to be held from 30 November to 29 December, will bring a new travel experience which integrates arts, religion, culture, heritage and green elements. Through a diversity of arts and cultural experience activities, the festival showcases the co-existence of Roman Catholicism and Hakka culture, along with the well-preserved natural ecology and heritage, of the small island off Sai Kung.
Find out more here. |
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DesignInspire (Hong Kong)
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, DesignInspire is an inspiring platform for global creative elites, design brands, design associations and institutes to showcase their creativities. An array of interactive installations, novel ideas, design products and projects will be featured during the event for both trade and public from 5 to 7 December.
Find out more here. |
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The 54th Hong Kong Brand and Products Expo (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, a large scale outdoor expo and carnival organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, will be held from 10-31 December at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. It will feature local and international renowned brands and quality products. Don’t miss the Miss Exhibition Pageant, Hong Kong Top Brand Awards and heaps of giveaways. Great fun for shoppers!
Find out more here. |
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