Latest from Hong Kong
Digital Economy Summit to lead smart future
The two-day Digital Economy Summit (DES) was successfully concluded on 14 April.  Themed “Emerging with Resilience: Fostering a Smarter Future”, the Summit gathered over 100 renowned technology visionaries, industry pioneers, business leaders and government officials from Hong Kong and abroad to present and exchange insights on various topics on innovation and technology (I&T).  The DES resumed for the first time after the pandemic and is rebranded from the previous Internet Economy Summit to manifest the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s objective of developing a digital economy in Hong Kong as promulgated in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint.  The DES featured an action-packed programme with eight thematic forums and symposium, examining a wide array of trending I&T topics including the integration of traditional and new economies, smart city, digital government, fintech, Web3, new industrialisation, as well as smart mobility.  The revival of the DES is a strong testament to Hong Kong’s resumption of full normalcy and the city’s return to the centre of the international stage.

More details here.
     
Innovative achievements of Government departments and industries showcased at inaugural InnoEX
The HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC) organised the four-day inaugural InnoEX from 12 to 15 April.  The Smart Hong Kong Pavilion of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer presented over 100 technology solutions that are closely related to people’s daily lives.  Through interactive experiences and live demonstrations, the Pavilion showed the fruitful achievements in developing I&T and a smart city in Hong Kong.  The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that the HKSAR Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, enhancing the efficiency and quality of public services through propelling wider application of I&T, and raising citizens’ sense of fulfillment.

More details here.
     
Chief Executive visits the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr John Lee, led a delegation of the HKSAR Government and the Legislative Council for a visit to Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 21 to 24 April.  The delegation visited a number of projects, facilities and enterprises in areas including I&T, environmental protection, youth development, and culture and arts during the four-day visit.  Mr Lee said that the visit demonstrated the spirit of unity, the great importance attached by the HKSAR to and its active participation in the development of the GBA, and built an enthusiastic consensus in achieving mutual benefits.  The HKSAR will capitalise on its unique advantages of enjoying strong national support while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and work together with other GBA cities in promoting high-quality development and telling the good stories of the GBA in the international arena.

See the delegation’s first day visit programme here.

Second day visit programme here.

Third day visit programme here.

Fourth day visit programme here.
     
First Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival opens
The opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2023 was held on 22 April.  Addressing the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that Hong Kong’s pop music, films and TV dramas had been developing rapidly since the 1970s, and were well-received in Asia and even Europe and the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.  As the National 14th Five-Year Plan positioned Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, the HKSAR Government will promote the development of the city’s culture, including its unique pop culture through diversified policies.  The Festival has curated some 20 programmes, with confirmed ones including seven performing arts programmes, four thematic exhibitions and four thematic film screenings, as well as a series of outreach activities.  It is expected to attract an audience of over 200 000.

More details here and on Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival’s website.
     
Immigration Department introduces 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline for residents outside Hong Kong to seek assistance
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced on 3 April the introduction of the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline for Hong Kong residents in distress or in need of assistance outside Hong Kong to contact the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the ImmD to seek assistance via the WhatsApp messaging application.  With the introduction of the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline, Hong Kong residents may use any one of the following means to contact the AHU if they need assistance while in distress outside Hong Kong:
  1. Call (852) 1868;
  2. Call the 1868 hotline using network data via the ImmD Mobile Application;
  3. Submit the Assistance Request Form online; or
  4. Send message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline.
More details here.
     
  Updates on Hong Kong’s anti-epidemic measures
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival quarantine and testing requirements have been removed.
Read more at the Fight Against COVID-19 website.
 
     
HKETO events
  Sydney Abroad Fair 2023
HKETO participated in the Sydney Abroad Fair 2023 organised by the University of Sydney on 4 April.  An information booth was set up to promote various initiatives for attracting talents to Hong Kong, notably the Top Talent Pass Scheme to entice high-income talents and graduates from the world’s top 100 universities, the online platform of the Talents Service Unit (www.hkengage.gov.hk) to provide one-stop electronic services for talents from around the world, and the career opportunities for non-Hong Kong trained doctors to pursue a medical career in Hong Kong.  The Deputy Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Henry Mak, also shared with the students an overview of the job market in Hong Kong and the exciting developments in the city.
 
     
  Official launch of the Invest Hong Kong Family Offices project in Australia
The official launch of the Invest Hong Kong Family Offices project in Australia was held in Sydney on 4 April.  Addressing the launch in a virtual speech, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, shared with the participants the advantages and core competitiveness of Hong Kong as Asia’s leading international financial centre, wealth management centre and family office hub.  He highlighted that the Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong (Policy Statement) was issued last month to create a conducive and competitive environment for the businesses of global family offices, which includes profit tax exemption, regulatory assistance to a new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, and the set-up of a new Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy.

The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, said that as a well-recognised premier global financial hub and wealth management centre, Hong Kong definitely ticks all the boxes for the diversified needs of family offices.  Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has maintained various competitive advantages including the common law system, an internationally aligned regulatory regime, freely convertible currency and free flow of capital.  She added that the Policy Statement represents the beginning of a journey for Hong Kong as it puts family offices as a strategic priority.
 
     
  Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Hong Kong Market Update in Auckland
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Hong Kong Market Update in Auckland jointly organised by HKETO, Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on 20 April.  Miss Lim said that Hong Kong is embracing a world of new opportunities as it resumed seamless connections to the Mainland and the world.  She introduced the Hello Hong Kong Campaign and highlighted a series of international events that have been held and to be held in the coming months to encourage the participants to visit Hong Kong.  She added that Hong Kong’s unique advantages are stronger than ever with the unfailing support of the Central Government and shared with the participants various initiatives of the Government to attract top-notch enterprises, investment and talents to Hong Kong.
 
     
  Business seminar held in Sydney to promote Hong Kong’s latest developments in life and health technology
HKETO jointly organised the business seminar “Stepping into the Dynamic Future of Healthcare – Latest Developments in Life and Health Technology in Hong Kong” in Sydney on 27 April with HKTDC and Business Sydney to promote the upcoming Asia Summit on Global Health on 17 to 18 May and the latest developments in life and health technology in Hong Kong.  Addressing the seminar in a virtual speech, the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said that Hong Kong is rapidly growing in prominence as a vibrant innovation hub and it is at the forefront to contribute to a more sustainable future for global healthcare.  He also highlighted the unwavering support from the Central Government and the Government’s dedication to promoting innovation and technology, life and health scientific research, and the proactive initiatives to attract enterprises and talents.

The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, said that Hong Kong has returned to the centre stage with seamless connections to Mainland China and the world resumed.  She highlighted Hong Kong's strengths in start-ups and biotechnology development as well as the opportunities in the city.  She encouraged participants to take part in the Summit and visit Hong Kong to experience the vibrancy of the Asia’s World City.

More details here.
 
     
Upcoming events
 
  Asia Summit on Global Health (Hong Kong and online)
Themed “Reimagining the Future of Healthcare”, the Asia Summit on Global Health will be staged from 17 to 18 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together all the stakeholders - from healthcare experts to renowned academia and influential business leaders, together with key industry players, innovative start-ups, investors and policymakers from around the world to exchange insights, explore opportunities and collaborate on the diverse and dynamic healthcare sector.

More details here.
 
     
  Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Hong Kong and online)
To be held from 16 to 18 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair provides industry players with the ideal platform to update themselves on the latest development and forge strong connections within the medical products field.

More details here.
 
     
  FIVB Volleyball Nations League (Hong Kong)
Returning after four years, the long-awaited FIVB Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong will be held at the Hong Kong Coliseum from 13 to 18 June.  Team China and seven world-class teams, including Italy, Turkey, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, Poland and Canada, will compete in 16 matches.

More details here.
 
     
  Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (Hong Kong)
The 2023 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will return on 24 to 25 June after a four-year hiatus.  The two-day event will be packed with an array of intense races to fill the Victoria Harbour with heart-pounding action, rich colours, and sounds of drummers and fans cheering paddlers on to the finish line off Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade.

More details here.
 
     
   
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