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Updates on Australia – Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement
The Australia – Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA) was referred to the Australian Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties for review on 29 July 2019, which is part of Australia’s treaty ratification process. The Committee called for interested persons and organisations to make submissions regarding the A-HKFTA by 23 August 2019. Submissions can be made online.
Find out more here for details. |
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The HK Youth Symphony Orchestra shines at Australian music festival
The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra (HKYSO) of the Music Office of HKSAR Government’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department participated in the 30th Australian International Music Festival held in Sydney from 4 to 10 July. It took home the Gold Award in the Instrumental Category and was named Command Ensemble by the adjudication panel, which enabled the Orchestra to perform at the Festival Closing Concert. The 69-member HKYSO met around 30 participating groups from all over the world during the visit and also joined a music workshop and exchange with the Cincinnati Junior String Orchestra from the US at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Read more here. |
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New Queensland trade commissioner in Hong Kong announced
On 19 July, the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Ms Julia Herries had been appointed Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner – Hong Kong. The commissioner is the Queensland Government representative in Hong Kong, and fosters trade and investment between Queensland and Hong Kong. In a press statement, Ms Palaszczuk said Ms Herries is well placed to represent Queensland interests in promoting trade and investment across all industries and has an extensive knowledge of the Greater Bay Area, including Southern China.
Read more here. |
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AustCham Hong Kong 2019 Internship Program builds Asia capability
The 2019 Internship Programme of the Australian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong (AustCham Hong Kong), to run from November 2019 to February 2020, will connect talented young Australian undergraduates with Hong Kong based companies across all industry sectors. For host companies, placements to undergraduate and graduate students from a selection of nationwide Australian universities and institutions will help enrich their learning and inject young talent into the organisations. For Australian universities looking for a stronger engagement with Asia or students interested in seeking valuable Asian experience, AustCham Hong Kong’s 1,400 members provide the perfect network with access to all industry sectors.
Read more here about the programme and application details. |
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Extradition bill is dead
Speaking at a media session on 9 July, the Chief Executive of HKSAR, Mrs Carrie Lam, said she had put a stop to the amendment exercise on the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. She reiterated that there is no plan to restart the process in the Legislative Council and that the bill is dead. Mrs Lam said the Government would adopt a new governance style to ensure that it is able to listen to views from different sectors before implementing policies. She said the HKSAR Government and herself would continue to address the social, economic and livelihood problems in Hong Kong with a view to resolving some of the current difficulties.
Read more
here. |
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Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and Chile enters into force
The Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and Chile entered into force on 14 July, bringing the total number of investment agreements in force between Hong Kong and foreign economies to 20. Under the Agreement, the two sides undertake to provide investors of the other side with protections, including fair, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of investments; compensation in the event of expropriation of investments; and the right to free transfers abroad of investments and returns. The Agreement also provides for settlement of investment disputes under internationally accepted rules.
Read more here. |
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Hong Kong’s start-up community robust and international
Speaking at the STARTIT.asia Hong Kong 3rd Edition Startup & Ecosystem Mixer on 10 July, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, said Hong Kong was home to more than 2,600 innovation and technology start-ups in 2018, which was up 18 per cent from 2017. He said Hong Kong’s start-up community was very robust and international, with about 35 per cent of the founders coming from outside of Hong Kong. The Government of the Hong Kong SAR has been scaling up its investment and support in the past three years, aiming to create a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong. He believed that initiatives in the Policy Address last year for developing high-end and high value-added production would help diversify and grow Hong Kong's economy in the long run.
Read more here. |
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Second "Connecting Belt & Road, Capturing Opportunities Together" Roundtable held
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) jointly held the second "Connecting Belt & Road, Capturing Opportunities Together" High-level Roundtable on July 9 and 10 in Hong Kong to discuss how Central State-owned Enterprises (CSoEs) can leverage on Hong Kong's advantages to facilitate their overseas investment and business expansion. The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Norman Chan, said Hong Kong provides enterprises with well-diversified financing channels, and has always been the preferred platform for Mainland enterprises' to 'go out'. The Vice Chairman of the SASAC, Ms Zhao Aiming, hoped that the CSoEs and Hong Kong could further strengthen their strategic ties and explore opportunities in Belt and Road projects with demonstrative effects and promote greater cooperation to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Read more here. |
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HKMA welcomes setting up of a BIS Innovation Hub Centre in Hong Kong
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced on 30 June that it will establish a BIS Innovation Hub (the "Hub") to foster international collaboration on innovative financial technology within the central banking community. One of the Hub Centres will be set up in Hong Kong. In welcoming the development, the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Norman Chan, said this was a clear recognition of Hong Kong's leading role in the development and application of innovative financial technologies and its vibrant fintech ecosystem. As a member of the BIS, the HKMA is fully supportive of its work, and will work closely with the Hub to contribute to its research projects on technology and innovation to foster better collaboration among central banks and the wider community.
Read more here. |
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Beauty of Cantonese opera showcased in Australia and New Zealand
The beauty of Cantonese opera and Hong Kong’s cultural heritage were showcased to audiences in Australia and New Zealand through performances of “Monkey King and Skeleton Devil”, a well-known episode from the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West”, by Hong Kong’s Azure Seas Cantonese Traditional Theatre. Organised by Australasian Art and Stageworks and sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (HKETO), the tour commenced in Auckland in New Zealand on 23 July before performances in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia on 26 July and 28 July respectively. There was also a public lecture in Melbourne on 27 July. The Deputy Director of the HKETO, Ms Winnie Chan, spoke before the performance in Sydney on 26 July on efforts of the HKSAR Government in creating an environment conducive to arts and cultural development, including the Xiqu Centre which is dedicated to the conservation, promotion and development of Chinese opera.
Read more here. |
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Hong Kong: Where Technology Companies to Connect and Excel (Australia)
The Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Phillips, will deliver a keynote speech in an event on 13 August in Sydney, Australia. With highlights on the latest technology development and business opportunities in Hong Kong and in the Greater Bay Area, the event will feature special guests from industries who will be sharing their experience of doing business in Hong Kong. This gathering will also offer excellent networking opportunities and industry insights.
Find out more here about joining the event. |
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Hong Kong Food Expo 2019 (Hong Kong)
Join foodies in Hong Kong to enjoy delicacies around the world in the annual Food Expo to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 15 to 19 August. Featuring more than 1,570 exhibitors with amazing food and beverages from around the world, the Expo opens up exciting new business possibilities while visitors enjoy new taste sensations.
Find out more here. |
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Belt and Road Summit (Hong Kong)
A premier international platform for promoting business collaboration along the Belt and Road, the Belt and Road Summit will be held from 11 to 12 September in Hong Kong. Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Summit will gather senior government officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange insights on multilateral co-operation and explore concrete business opportunities.
Find out more here about joining the Summit. |
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Museum Summit 2019 (Hong Kong)
In partnership with the British Museum, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the HKSAR Government will hold the Museum Summit in Hong Kong on 28 and 29 November with the theme ‘Formation and Transformation’. The Summit will feature over 30 speakers from prestigious players in the field, who are set to share their expert experience and innovative ideas on nowadays museum development and transformation across the world.
Find out more here for event details and registration. |
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