Speech by SCED at JUMPSTARTER Ignition Gala by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the JUMPSTARTER Ignition Gala by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund today (October 21):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
Welcome to the StartmeupHK Festival 2024. It is my pleasure to join you all this afternoon at this first and foremost opening event of the Festival - JUMPSTARTER Ignition Gala by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund. The Gala marks the exciting launch of JUMPSTARTER, a global pitch competition organised by the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, alongside the kick-off of the StartmeupHK Festival 2024.
As you all know, this Festival, which is in its ninth year now, has been receiving overwhelming support from the start-up ecosystem in Hong Kong, and serving as a powerful catalyst over time for Hong Kong's burgeoning start-up ecosystem. The Festival this year, curated by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) with the theme "A Future Unlimited", will bring together many start-ups, investors, industry leaders and tech enthusiasts from around the world, providing an international platform for knowledge exchange, networking and collaboration across various cutting-edge sectors. I can assure you about an exciting series of events in the coming full week of the StartmeupHK Festival.
As for this opening Gala, it marks the start of this year's JUMPSTARTER, which is a global competition providing invaluable opportunities for entrepreneurs across the globe to gather in Hong Kong, pitch their ideas and business proposals, learn from mentors and investors, and most importantly, pursue their dreams in Hong Kong. I look forward to the enthusiastic participation by contestants from around the world, and wish the competition a great success.
The JUMPSTARTER is just one of the many opportunities offered in Hong Kong as a launch pad for start-ups to be groomed locally and scale globally. Being the only economy in the world where the global advantage and the China advantage come together, Hong Kong continues to maintain our uniqueness as one of the most liberal and easiest places to do business in the world: Hong Kong is once again ranked by the Fraser Institute this year as the freest economy; and we are ranked the third globally as well as the first in the Asia-Pacific region in the recent Global Financial Centres Index report. In addition, Hong Kong remains as the world's fourth largest recipient of foreign direct investment in 2023 as revealed in the World Investment Report 2024, and continues to attract businesses and investment from around the world.
These impressive achievements are attributed to our institutional strengths, such as a robust common law legal system, an independent judiciary, a simple and low tax system, world-class professional services, start-up-and-business-friendly environment as well as other advantages guaranteed under "one country, two systems". All of these continue to be the pillars supporting Hong Kong's success as hubs for start-ups.
In fact, many start-ups fully recognise Hong Kong's competitive edges. We are home to over 4 200 start-ups, which is a record high, representing a significant increase by 7 per cent year on year. In the first nine months this year, InvestHK has helped 470 overseas and Mainland enterprises to set foot or expand their business here, and over 10 per cent of them are start-ups and scale-ups from different sectors. The above encouraging results are testaments to Hong Kong's attractiveness.
In the 2024 Policy Address announced last week, the Government has launched new initiatives to further drive economic development, which will benefit all businesses in Hong Kong, including start-ups. For instance, the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) has recently been updated to provide more flexibility and convenience for Hong Kong enterprises to invest and do business on the Mainland. As CEPA measures are nationality neutral, all companies based in Hong Kong can benefit from the latest enhancements. We would encourage more start-ups from around the world to set up their operations in Hong Kong to enjoy these advantages.
On individuals' level, non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents have become eligible for the Mainland travel permit since July this year. This unprecedented measure facilitates their visits to the Mainland for business, leisure or family trips multiple times within a five-year validity period. I note that it has been well received by expatriates in Hong Kong, and encourage our overseas friends in the start-up community to all apply for the permit, if eligible, and enjoy the convenience brought by this initiative.
To facilitate your understanding of the above initiatives and many others, InvestHK, including its global network of Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents based in overseas Economic and Trade Offices, as well as its consultant offices, will continue to render support to you, with a view to facilitating your start-ups to set up and scale up in our city.
Looking forward, Hong Kong's economic prospects are promising, and the Government will continue to strive to maintain a favourable business environment for start-ups as we always do. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our start-up friends here today for your tremendous support to the Festival and confidence in Hong Kong. I hope you enjoy the Gala event and all the exciting events ahead, exploring collaboration opportunities and experiencing the innovative spirit that defines Hong Kong as a prime destination for start-ups.
Thank you.
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
------------------------------
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
-----------------------------------------------------
Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
---------------------------------------------------------
The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
----------------------------------------------------
Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
