Hong Kong – SFST promotes Hong Kong’s role as financial gateway for Vietnam to Greater Bay Area and beyond (with photos)
SFST promotes Hong Kong’s role as financial gateway for Vietnam to Greater Bay Area and beyond (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (December 13) started his visit to Vietnam. Apart from meeting with the top management of major financial institutions, he elaborated on Hong Kong’s strengths at gatherings with leading business chambers in Ho Chi Minh City.
Addressing a business luncheon co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the largest local chamber of commerce in Vietnam, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Hui summarised what Hong Kong could offer in financial services to realise more co-operation opportunities with Vietnam in the “3Cs”, namely connections, currency and commitment.
Hong Kong is best positioned to connect Vietnam with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), a world-class city cluster featuring a strong and diversified industrial base, said Mr Hui.
“The GBA offers immense opportunities for Hong Kong to leverage its strengths and complementarity with other cities in the region, and offer the opportunities of a sizable and integrated market to international market players like Vietnamese financial institutions and corporates,” he noted.
Mr Hui added that Hong Kong is also well positioned to capture the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “Hong Kong can play a pivotal role in connecting Vietnamese financial institutions and corporates in fulfilling the financing and investment needs of BRI projects and its participants,” he said.
On currency, referring to Renminbi (RMB), Mr Hui said that Hong Kong has a wide range of RMB-denominated products and services, such as bonds, stocks, funds, and loans.
“We have seen an increased issuance of RMB bonds in Hong Kong. During the first 10 months of this year, issuance amounted to US$54 billion, already exceeding the amount of US$36 billion for the whole of last year,” Mr Hui noted.
Riding on this market trend, Mr Hui looks forward to more Vietnamese corporates and financial institutions exploring issuances of RMB-denominated bonds in Hong Kong.
Regarding Hong Kong’s commitment to cope with climate change, the third “C”, Mr Hui said that Hong Kong and Vietnam can work together for common good. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will devote about HK$240 billion to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the next 15 to 20 years. On the financing front, the green and sustainable finance market in Hong Kong has seen impressive growth, for example, in issuance of green and sustainable debt comprising bonds and loans.
At a Christmas dinner of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam tonight, Mr Hui told the participants that Hong Kong’s deep and sophisticated stock and bond markets, as well as a vibrant ecosystem of venture capital, private equity and asset management firms, could surely assist Vietnamese companies in expanding their businesses in the region. Also reinforcing confidence are the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle and the upholding of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Mr Hui made use of today’s opportunity to inform the business community of Hong Kong’s recent relaxation of its visa policy in respect of employment opportunities for Vietnamese talent and the criteria for Vietnamese applying for multiple-entry visas for business and travel.
Today, Mr Hui also met with the Secretary General of the Vietnam Banks’ Association (VNBA), Dr Nguyen Quoc Hung, to exchange views on maintaining financial resilience amid global economic uncertainties and explore areas of co-operation such as fintech and green finance. The VNBA is a professional organisation representing credit institutions and other related organisations operating in Vietnam’s banking sector.
Moreover, the Acting Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, Mrs Nguyen Thi Viet Ha, had a meeting with Mr Hui today to discuss issues of mutual interests.
And, to gather first-hand information on tech business operations in Vietnam, Mr Hui had a gathering with the top management of three Vietnamese enterprises which care about sustainable development and run diverse businesses, from healthy food offerings to clean energy, and covering retail, finance and real estate. Mr Hui encouraged them to make use of Hong Kong’s capital market to raise fund.
Tomorrow (December 14), Mr Hui will depart for Hanoi to continue to his visit to Vietnam.
CSB promotes voting in DC election in community (with photos)
*************************************************************
Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong cinema in Tokyo (with photos)
**********************************************************
To mark the opening of the programme, a reception was held by Tokyo ETO tonight before the screening of Hong Kong film “Where the Wind Blows”.
The Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said at the opening reception that strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange is a top priority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
“In line with this commitment, the Chief Executive recently announced the injection of a total of HK$4.3 billion to the Film Development Fund and the CreateSmart Initiative to support the cultural and creative industries. Furthermore, to enhance international exchanges and nurture talent, we will be launching the Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme to sponsor film projects co-produced by Hong Kong filmmakers and their Asian and European counterparts,” she added.
The film programme in Tokyo showcases seven Hong Kong movies, including “Back Home”, “Where the Wind Blows”, “Mad Fate”, “A Guilty Conscience”, “Once in a Blue Moon”, “The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell” and “Viva Erotica” (restored). Today, producer of “Back Home” Mani Man, film director of “Where the Wind Blows” Philip Yung and its screenwriter Sun Fei participated in sharing sessions with audiences after the screening of the respective movies. On November 3 and 4, film directors Jack Ng, Soi Cheang and Andy Lo, actors Dayo Wong and Gordon Lam, and actress Gladys Li will also participate in sharing sessions on their respective movies.
CE promotes message of regular exercising in Sport For All Day 2023 (with photos/video)
***************************************************************************************
The focal activity of the Sport For All Day this year is “fitness exercise for wellness”. The LCSD organised a series of physical fitness demonstrations and play-in sessions for the public’s participation to encourage them to pursue a healthy body and mind through regular physical exercise.
Accompanying Mr Lee to join the event were the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Mr Chum Tak-shing; the Chairman of the Community Sports Committee (CSC), Professor Patrick Yung; the Vice-Chairman of the CSC, Mr Eric Fok; the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Paul Wong; swimming athlete Tam Hoi-lam and wushu athlete Lau Tsz-hong.
During the event, guests watched a demonstration of interval training and viewed fun games such as surfset, electronic cardio cage, electronic battling rope, speed stacks and sport climbing. They also had a taste of fencing. While the 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou between September 23 and October 8, the LCSD appealed to members of the public to enjoy the Games, as well as cheering for and supporting Hong Kong athletes.
At the same time, to echo the Sport For All Day, 16 Principal Officials also joined the recreation and sports activities held at sports centres in various districts, including the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; and the Acting Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam.
This year, the slogan of the Sport For All Day 2023 remained to be “Stay Active, Healthy and Happy!”. Free recreation and sports programmes were held at designated sports centres in 18 districts and most leisure facilities under the purview of the LCSD were open for free use. A live webcast of sports demonstrations was also arranged via the event’s dedicated website and the “LCSD Plusss” Facebook page to encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage in regular sports and physical activities, so as to continuously build a “Sport for All” culture in the community.
The Sport For All Day 2023 is co-organised by the Department of Health; the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China; and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled.
London ETO promotes Hong Kong at International Maritime Organization (with photos)
**********************************************************************************
Addressing to the audience, the Director-General of London ETO, Mr Gilford Law said, “Leveraging on its strong international connectivity and the fourth largest Shipping Register (amounting to about 127 million gross tons) in the world, Hong Kong’s maritime sector is set to thrive. The 14th Five-Year Plan expressly supports Hong Kong’s role as an international transportation centre. In order to enhance its strength as an international maritime centre, Hong Kong is seeking to establish a world-class port cluster in collaboration with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), promoting high value-added maritime and logistics services in accordance with the country’s plans and needs, and facilitating the development of smart port and digitalisation in shipping.”
Mr Law also outlined the 2023-24 Budget initiatives in raising the maritime industry’s competitiveness, such as attracting more maritime enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong through tax concessions, promoting the development of smart port by setting up a digitalised port community system for enhancing operational efficiency, as well as earmarking $20 million (around £2.1 million) to expedite studies on strategies for promoting the high‑end maritime service industry and enhance exchanges among industries in the international arena and the GBA.
“As a leading international maritime centre, Hong Kong keeps attracting global talents. Three of the 13 professions on our Talent List are marine-related, namely Naval Architects, Marine Engineers and Superintendents of Ships, and Marine Insurance Professionals. These professionals can live and work in Hong Kong without obtaining job offers in advance.” Mr Law added.
In addition, Mr Law updated delegates on the lifting of travel restrictions and mask-wearing requirements in Hong Kong. Highlighting the launch of “Hello Hong Kong” campaign, he encouraged them to visit Asia’s World City and experience its hospitality.
The reception was joined by the Secretary-General of the IMO, Mr Kitack Lim, and well attended by about 200 guests from delegations of IMO Member States, top representatives of international organisations, and key representatives of shipowners in London.
Hong Kong – CSB promotes voting in DC election in community (with photos)
After encouraging civil servants to vote in the District Council (DC) election, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) Volunteer Team switched from government buildings to busy Tsim Sha Tsui this evening (November 27) to carry out their promotion. The volunteer team encouraged shopkeepers and members of the public to cast their vote in the DC election and distributed leaflets to them, calling on them to vote on December 10 to elect DC members who will serve the community.
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, and members of the volunteer team jointly promoted voting in the DC election. The CSB Volunteer Team members come from the Administrative Officer Grade, the Executive Officer Grade, the Training Officer Grade, the Official Languages Officer Grade, the Analyst/Programmer Grade and the Clerical Grade. There are also civil servants from the Public Service Commission and the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service.
The 30-odd volunteer team members dispersed into smaller teams in various places with higher footfall in Tsim Sha Tsui to call on the public to vote in the DC election.
The Government is sparing no effort in publicising activities to promote enthusiastic voting on polling day. In order to further disseminate the message in the community to vote in the DC election, bureaux and departments are taking an active part in the publicity for the DC election by going to the 18 districts for this purpose. A series of measures to facilitate people to cast their vote are also in place to encourage all civil servants and Hong Kong citizens to shoulder their civic responsibility and cast their vote.
Mrs Yeung said, “Our activity showed that civil servants are united to support the DC election. Our colleagues promote the DC election in the community with one heart and hope to remind the public not to miss polling day. It is also meant to further promote the voting message among colleagues through the work of the volunteer team. The DC election will affect the services and development of the districts in the next four years. With only 13 days to go before the DC Election, it is time to learn about the platforms of different candidates, and vote on polling day to elect those who do practical work for the districts.”
Electors can visit the DC election website (www.elections.gov.hk) for their respective constituencies and for information on the candidates. The polling hours of DC geographical constituency ordinary polling stations on polling day (December 10) will be from 8.30am to 10.30pm.Hong Kong – Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong cinema in Tokyo (with photos)
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (Tokyo ETO) and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society are jointly presenting a Hong Kong film festival “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing a selection of new and restored Hong Kong films from today (November 2) to November 5. Hong Kong – CE promotes message of regular exercising in Sport For All Day 2023 (with photos/video)
To promote the message of regular exercising for health, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 6) attended the Sport For All Day 2023 held by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) at the Sham Shui Po Sports Centre and took part in sports fun games.Hong Kong – London ETO promotes Hong Kong at International Maritime Organization (with photos)
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO), with the support of the Marine Department, held a reception at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on March 15 (London time) to promote Hong Kong’s position as a prominent international maritime centre.Ads
