Hong Kong – HKETO, Brussels supports “Transformative Hong Kong” architecture exhibition at Venice Biennale (with photo)

HKETO, Brussels supports “Transformative Hong Kong” architecture exhibition at Venice Biennale (with photo)

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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) is pleased to support the architecture exhibition “Transformative Hong Kong”, to be staged at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – Biennale Architettura 2023 – at La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale), in Venice, Italy.

     Speaking at the grand opening of the architecture exhibition on the afternoon of May 19 (Venice time), Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels Mr Henry Tsoi remarked that Hong Kong had one of the most recognisable skylines of any city in the world. Hong Kong has iconic buildings and record-breaking bridges, and is forging ahead with massive, ambitious projects like the West Kowloon Cultural District, as the city looks forward to the Northern Metropolis.

     “This exhibition celebrates Hong Kong as a vibrant and complex city, which has many qualities that are both critically difficult and critically inspiring, driving architects to find creative, innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges that we are facing. I think the exhibition succeeds in delivering insights,” Mr Tsoi said.

     “Transformative Hong Kong” is a Collateral Event of the Venice Biennale, organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, and sponsored by Create Hong Kong. The exhibition introduces Hong Kong as a city on the cusp of its next development phase from institutional, creative community and public perspectives, and gives international and local audiences unique insights into the key urban issues facing Hong Kong in the near future.

     The architectural theme of the Venice Biennale this year is “The Laboratory of the Future”. It will be open from May 20 until November 26, 2023.

Hong Kong – SFST continues visit in Brussels, Belgium (with photos)

SFST continues visit in Brussels, Belgium (with photos)

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     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, continued his visit in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday (April 14, Brussels time). 
 
     Mr Hui met with senior officials of the European Commission in the morning. During the meeting with the Director for Direct Taxation, Tax Coordination, Economic Analysis and Evaluation, DG TAXUD (Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union) of the European Commission, Mr Benjamin Angel, Mr Hui reiterated Hong Kong’s commitment to upholding the prevailing international tax requirements against cross-border tax avoidance and working closely with the European Union (EU) in tackling harmful tax practices. On the foreign-sourced income exemption (FSIE) regime which took effect from January this year in Hong Kong, Mr Hui said he was pleased to note that the EU considered the new regime fully in compliance with their requirements with regard to dividends, interest and IP (intellectual property) income.
 
     At the meeting with the Deputy Director-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union of the European Commission, Ms Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Mr Hui shared Hong Kong’s efforts in promoting fintech as well as green and sustainable finance, as both the EU and Hong Kong are pioneers in the related fields.
 
     Mr Hui also met with the Deputy Chairman of the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority, Ms Annemie Rombouts. They exchanged views on the increasing importance of international co-operation among financial market supervisors and shared experience in effective supervision while facilitating business growth.
 
     Mr Hui paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, Mr Cao Zhongming. He briefed Mr Cao on Hong Kong’s continuous efforts in integrating into national development.
 
     The Hong Kong Film Night of the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) was held yesterday. Mr Hui said he was pleased to join BIFFF for the first time and gave welcoming remarks at the reception. He noted one of the Hong Kong Government’s priorities is to develop the city into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and the Government is strongly supportive of the creative industries, surely including the film industry.  
 
     On April 15 (Brussels time), Mr Hui will visit Port of Zeebrugge, the second largest port in Belgium, before concluding his duty trip in the country.

Hong Kong – HKETO, Brussels supports Hong Kong designers during Paris Fashion Week (with photos)

HKETO, Brussels supports Hong Kong designers during Paris Fashion Week (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported a networking event for the fashion business during Paris Fashion Week in France on February 28 (Paris time).

     The event was organised by the Fashion Farm Foundation (FFF) to promote Hong Kong’s talents to guests from different parts of the world, including editors, buyers and designers in the field of fashion.

     In her address to the guests, Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels Miss Grace Li, highly praised the craftsmanship and use of technology which could be seen in the designers’ work. She said, “The collections being showcased resonate with the concerns of our time, such as sustainability, inclusivity and new ways of expressing diversity and individuality.” She also added, “The open, vibrant and cosmopolitan environment of Hong Kong is ideal for nurturing new talents. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to provide more support for fostering development in creative sectors.”

     Miss Li also mentioned the launching of the “Hello Hong Kong” Campaign. She emphasised that Hong Kong is back on the international stage, and is ready to receive guests from all around the world. She highlighted two fashion-related events and invited friends from other places to visit Hong Kong.

     The FFF is a non-profit organisation founded in 2012 by a group of passionate fashion entrepreneurs and fashion educators in Hong Kong to promote Hong Kong fashion globally. It aims to build synergy among Hong Kong-based fashion designers, cultural practitioners, industry experts and retailers. By participating in Paris Fashion Week, the FFF enhances international exposure for Hong Kong fashion designers. This season, the FFF brought eight Hong Kong labels to Paris Fashion Week, which is being held from February 28 to March 8.

Hong Kong – HKETO, Brussels hosts receptions in Italy and Portugal in celebration of Chinese New Year (with photos)

HKETO, Brussels hosts receptions in Italy and Portugal in celebration of Chinese New Year (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) has concluded a month of celebrations to mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit. For the finale of the celebration, HKETO, Brussels hosted two Chinese New Year receptions this week, respectively in Italy’s financial and business centre, Milan (February 6), and Portugal’s second biggest city, Porto (February 9). 

     The Chinese New Year receptions in Milan and Porto were the first receptions held in those countries in-person since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

     Officiating at the Chinese New Year receptions, the Acting Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Grace Li, highlighted the launching of the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign and invited guests to visit Hong Kong and experience the vibrant Hong Kong culture in person.

     “Hong Kong resumed holding international sporting and business events since last November, including the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, the Hong Kong Sevens, and the Asian Financial Forum, and many more to come,” Miss Li said. 

     Apart from highlighting the top class mega events to be held in the city, Miss Li also emphasised the setting up of the dedicated office in Hong Kong and the implementation of various facilitation measures that would make it even easier for enterprises and talents from around the world to settle in Hong Kong.

     HKETO, Brussels took the opportunity to showcase Hong Kong’s unique East-meet-West culture by bringing different musical performances to the receptions. In Porto, the programme combined tradition, modernity, and Chinese and Western musical instruments with performance of a trio of erhu, percussion and piano, followed by a performance of oboe.

     The receptions were hosted in co-operation with partners, including Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Italy-Hong Kong Association and the Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

     Guests included officials from national and local governments, financial and business sectors, academia, cultural and creative sectors, media and the Chinese (including Hong Kong) community.

     HKETO, Brussels had also hosted Chinese New Year receptions in Luxembourg (January 19), The Hague, the Netherlands (January 25), Brussels, Belgium (January 31) and Paris, France (February 2).

Hong Kong – HKETO, Brussels hosts receptions in European cities in celebration of Chinese New Year (with photos)

HKETO, Brussels hosts receptions in European cities in celebration of Chinese New Year (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) hosted two Chinese New Year receptions this week, respectively in Brussels, Belgium (on January 31) and Paris, France (February 2) to celebrate the start of the Year of the Rabbit.

     Being the first Chinese New Year receptions held in-person since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, they were a timely occasion for renewing ties between Hong Kong and Europe. 

     In her welcoming remarks, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union (Acting), Miss Grace Li, invited guests to visit Hong Kong and experience the vibrant Hong Kong culture in person.

     Highlighting the launching of the “Hello Hong Kong!” campaign, Miss Li said Hong Kong stood ready to welcome friends to discover or rediscover the attractiveness of Hong Kong. 

     Miss Li added that, “we have been equipping ourselves to seize the enormous opportunity lying ahead.” She also emphasised the setting up of the dedicated office and the implementation of various facilitation measures would make it even easier for enterprises and talents from around the world settle in Hong Kong, and gain access to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with its boundless opportunities.

     HKETO, Brussels has also hosted Chinese New Year receptions in Luxembourg (19 January) and The Hague, the Netherlands (25 January).

     The receptions were hosted in cooperation with partners, including Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the China-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association, the Belgium Hong Kong Society and the France Hong Kong Business Association.

     HKETO, Brussels took the opportunity to showcase the Hong Kong’s unique East-meet-West culture by bringing different musical performances to the receptions.  Performers, most of whom were born and grew up in Hong Kong, included a brass quintet, a string quartet, a marimba-pipa duet and an oboist solo.

     The receptions were well received. Guests included top echelon and officials from European institutions, national governments, diplomatic missions, consulates and embassies, financial and business sectors, academia, cultural and creative sectors, media and the Chinese (including Hong Kong) community.