Latest from Hong Kong
Global Talent Summit • Hong Kong
The two-day Global Talent Summit • Hong Kong was held on 7 to 8 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.  Under the theme “The Power of Global Talent”, the International Talent Forum on the first day aimed to explore major trends of global competition for talent and talent mobility from the macro perspective, and delve into the role of diverse talent to economic and industrial developments.  The Summit brought together international and Mainland leaders from political, academic, business and other sectors to exchange trends and experiences in talent development, with a view to promoting Hong Kong’s dual role and advantages as an international talent hub and the country’s gateway for talent under the “one country, two systems” principle.  The Second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) High-quality Talent Development Conference on the second day promoted the building of a talent hub in the GBA, and strengthened talent development and tripartite co-operation.  Some 4 900 attendees in total participated in the International Talent Forum and the Second GBA High-quality Talent Development Conference, together with over 130 000 views on the live webcast.  The CareerConnect Expo held on both days concurrently also attracted over 8 600 attendees.

More details here.

GBA Conference’s details here.

CareerConnect Expo’s details here.
     
Asia Summit on Global Health 2024
Themed “Innovation • Inclusion • Impact”, the Asia Summit on Global Health 2024 was held on 16 to 17 May.  The Summit brought together over 80 experts, researchers, medical professionals, business leaders, investors and representatives from the healthcare industry worldwide.  They engaged in fruitful discussions on diverse forward-looking issues, ranging from healthcare innovation, innovative drugs and China’s healthcare development to healthcare investment prospects and healthcare insurance.  It has attracted over 2 800 participants from 40 countries and regions.  More than 360 one-on-one deal-making sessions and over 650 business matching meetings were arranged to facilitate cross-sector collaboration.

See the Chief Executive’s speech here.

See the Secretary for Health’s speech here.
     
Calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (second half of 2024) announced
The calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (second half of 2024) was announced on 21 May.  At least 210 mega events will be held throughout 2024, with over 100 events both in the first and second halves of the year.  Similar to the first six months, different types of mega events in the second half of the year cover various areas including cultural, arts and creative events; sports; conventions and exhibitions; finance, economy, innovation and technology (I&T) related events; as well as festivals, celebrations, galas and carnivals.  The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said that mega events would bring substantial economic benefits.  It is estimated that approximately 1.7 million tourists would participate in the mega events in 2024.  Their spending is estimated to be about HK$7.2 billion, bringing value-added of about HK$4.3 billion to the Hong Kong economy.

More details here.
     
SCED attended APEC trade ministers meeting
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting from 17 to 18 May in Peru.  APEC this year has adopted the theme “Empower • Include • Grow”, with discussions on topics under three priorities, namely trade and investment for inclusive and interconnected growth; innovation and digitalisation to promote transition to the formal and global economy; and sustainable growth for resilient development.  During the two-day meeting, Mr Yau and trade ministers of other member economies participated in sessions entitled “Trade Liberalisation: World Trade Organization (WTO)”, “Trade Liberalisation: Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)” and “Trade Facilitation and Trade and Inclusion”.  Mr Yau called on APEC member economies to reaffirm the goal of an eventual FTAAP that fulfils the promise of shared prosperity.  On the margins of the MRT Meeting, Mr Yau met with other trade ministers to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

More details on first day’s meetings here.

More details on second day’s meetings here.
     
HKETO events
Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Business Awards Gala Dinner organised by the National Chapter of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association (HKABA)
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Business Awards Gala Dinner organised by the National Chapter of the HKABA on 31 May in Adelaide.  Addressing the event, Miss Lim said that Hong Kong and Australia enjoy long-standing and ever-growing relationship, where Hong Kong was Australia’s 5th largest source of total foreign investment with a stock of over A$140 billion in 2023.  Miss Lim highlighted that the Government attaches great importance to attracting enterprises and talent.  In the first two months of this year alone, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has already assisted 100 overseas and Mainland companies to set up or expand businesses in Hong Kong, an increase of 74% compared with the same period last year.  Miss Lim encouraged the participants to visit Hong Kong and see first-hand the enormous opportunities in the Asia’s World City.
     
Director of HKETO Sydney virtually attended the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development” event organised by the Western Australia Chapter of the HKABA
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, virtually attended the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development” event organised by the Western Australia Chapter of the HKABA on 29 May.  Miss Lim said that the GBA is a vast consumer market, integrating some 86 million consumers and boasting a GDP worth about US$2 trillion last year, equivalent to the tenth largest economy in the world.  Miss Lim stressed that thanks to the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the GBA’s international entry point, the ideal base for Western Australia’s companies looking to tap into the region’s vast opportunities, the best platform to build their Mainland and Asia business.  She also introduced the GBA related-initiatives in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, noting that foreign staff of Hong Kong-registered companies could make applications in Hong Kong for “northbound” multiple-entry visas to Mainland China for two years or more with priority processing.
 
     
Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Reception
HKETO co-hosted a Cocktail Reception with the HKIE in Sydney on 28 May.  The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, welcomed the HKIE delegation to Australia to further strengthen the close bilateral ties and professional exchanges between Hong Kong and Australia, especially in the field of engineering.  Miss Lim said that I&T is central to the future of many of Hong Kong’s industries including engineering. The Government is driving some key I&T initiatives, including establishing an AI Supercomputing Centre; setting up the Microelectronics Research and Development Institute; as well as supporting the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park.  Miss Lim also shared with the participants the proactive initiatives of the Government to attract talent to Hong Kong.

The President of HKIE, Dr Barry Lee, gave a presentation on the HKIE and the latest developments of the engineering industry in Hong Kong at the reception.
     
Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Canterbury TechFest 2024, NZ Hi-Tech Awards 2024 Gala Dinner and Start up event in New Zealand
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Canterbury TechFest 2024 supported by InvestHK in Christchurch on 23 May.  Miss Lim highlighted that the Government will accelerate the development of Hong Kong into an international centre for green technology and finance and strives to build a green technology ecosystem.  More than 200 green technology companies work out of Hong Kong, with some equipped with globally competitive technologies and having successfully tapped into the Mainland and overseas markets.  The Head of Startups of InvestHK, Ms Jayne Chan, shared with participants the latest developments and business opportunities in Hong Kong during the panel discussion.

Miss Lim also attended the Start up event organised by the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association and the NZ Hi-Tech Awards 2024 Gala Dinner on 24 May to share with the participants the latest I&T development in Hong Kong, as well as the proactive initiatives of the Government to attract talent and enterprises.
     
Director of HKETO Sydney attended Startmeup Business Seminar
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Startmeup Business Seminar “Opportunities in Hong Kong for Australian Companies” co-organised by InvestHK and Haymarket HQ in Sydney on 21 May.  Miss Lim said that Hong Kong has solidified its position as an international hub for I&T, driven by the government’s strong commitment and the entrepreneurial spirit of its business community.  On the Emerging Ecosystems ranking in 2023, Hong Kong ranks second in the world and first in Asia.  Miss Lim highlighted that Hong Kong’s robust ecosystem has attracted startups across diverse sectors like fintech, e-commerce, biotech, logistics technology, and supply chain management, leading to a record high number of nearly 4 300 startups in Hong Kong.  Miss Lim also introduced the various initiatives rolled out by the Government to attract top-notch enterprises, investment and talent to Hong Kong, notably the setting up of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) and the Top Talent Pass Scheme.

The Head of Startups of InvestHK, Ms Jayne Chan, also shared with the participants the exciting opportunities as well as market updates on Hong Kong.
     
Director of HKETO Sydney attended the Hong Kong Fintech Startup Ecosystem Roundtable
The Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, attended the Hong Kong Fintech Startup Ecosystem Roundtable co-hosted by InvestHK and Fintech Australia in Sydney on 21 May.  Addressing the event, Miss Lim said that Hong Kong proudly hosts around 1 000 fintech companies and start-ups, including virtual banks, virtual insurers and virtual asset trading platforms, representing an increase of 25% as compared to the number last year.  Miss Lim noted that the Government will launch the Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme in the first half of this year, which is bound to expand Hong Kong’s green fintech ecosystem and will further reinforce its status as an international green finance centre.  With the strong economic and trade ties as well as people-to-people links between Hong Kong and Australia, Miss Lim hoped to see more and more Australian companies and startups going global via Hong Kong.

The Head of Startups of InvestHK, Ms Jayne Chan, also shared with the participants the unparalleled advantages of Hong Kong as an ideal destination for businesses at the roundtable.
     
HKETO supported Hong Kong film screening “In Broad Daylight” in Sydney
HKETO supported the Hong Kong Film Festival in Australia to screen an award-winning Hong Kong film, “In Broad Daylight”, from 16 to 18 May.  Addressing the audience in the first screening on 16 May, the Director of HKETO Sydney, Miss Trista Lim, said that the Hong Kong Government is committed to promoting Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.  Miss Lim highlighted the initiatives announced in the Financial Secretary’s 2024-25 Budget on promoting filming and creative industries, notably the injection of about HK$1.4 billion and HK$2.9 billion into the Film Development Fund and the CreateSmart Initiative respectively to support projects in various areas such as film, arts and design.  She also introduced an array of talent admission initiatives to encourage people joining the exciting venture in Hong Kong.
     
Deputy Director of HKETO Sydney attended the “Launch Your Career in Hong Kong, Australia and Beyond” Networking Night organised by the New South Wales Chapter of the HKABA
The Deputy Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Timothy Chau, attended the “Launch Your Career in Hong Kong, Australia and Beyond” Networking Night organised by the New South Wales Chapter of the HKABA on 9 May.  Mr Chau introduced the Government’s initiatives on attracting enterprises, investment and talent, noting that through the OASES, some 50 high-powered, high-tech companies have chosen Hong Kong to set up or expand their business, bringing more than US$5 billion investment to the economy, while creating some 13 000 jobs over the next few years.  Mr Chau also shared the Government’s efforts to proactively promote the mega event economy in Hong Kong.  He encouraged the participants to visit Hong Kong to see first-hand the enormous opportunities on offer in Asia’s world city.
     
Upcoming events
 
  “The Love Story of Sam and Sally” musical by Actors’ Family (Sydney)
Hong Kong’s leading musical theatre company, Actors’ Family, will perform two shows of romantic musical “The Love Story of Sam and Sally” on 28 to 29 June at The Concourse Theatre in Sydney.  Experience a delightful blend of 22 timeless Cantonese pop songs from the golden era, reimagined in a fresh production tailored for Australian audiences.  Performances are in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles.

More details and buy tickets here.
 
     
  “Convergence” dance performance by the Hong Kong Dance Company (Sydney)
Presented by HKETO, the Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDC) will stage three award-winning performances “Convergence” from 12 to 13 July at Everest Theatre of the Seymour Centre in Sydney.  The bold new programme marries a unique dialogue between tranquillity and exuberance, stillness and motion, and follows a collaboration between two Eastern traditions since 2018.  Choreographed by HKDC’s award-winning Artistic Director, Yang Yuntao, “Convergence” was developed to gain new perspectives on movement, with dancers studying and training with the masters of Southern Chinese martial arts for years.  Visually spectacular, it incorporates specially crafted digital art which brings together old-world cultures with the latest in new media.

More details and buy tickets here.
 
     
  2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (Hong Kong)
As the birthplace of modern dragon boat racing, Hong Kong will host the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races from 15 to 16 June, welcoming both locals and visitors to experience its glamour.  This jam-packed weekend event features a series of races, where top dragon boat racing teams from Hong Kong and around the world compete along the waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui East in Victoria Harbour.

More details here.
 
     
  The Knowledge of Design Week 2024 (Hong Kong)
To be held from 25 to 27 June, the Knowledge of Design Week, organised by Hong Kong Design Centre, is partnering with France this year to showcase a fusion of innovative designs and France’s renowned craftsmanship.  Under the theme “Inter/Section: Crafting Tomorrow’s Design”, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge workshops and masterclasses.  They will also have the chance to meet and interact with global design leaders.

More details here.
 
     
   
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