InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) are wrapping up a strong presence at London Tech Week 2025 (June 9 to 13, London time), underscoring Hong Kong's role as a strategic gateway for the United Kingdom (UK) technology companies expanding into Asia and highlighting the growing momentum for bilateral collaboration between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the UK in innovation and technology.
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InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
As the official Founders Fuse Partners at London Tech Week, InvestHK and the London ETO hosted a series of fireside chats moderated by the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion at InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip. Speakers included members of InvestHK's Innovation and Technology teams, who outlined Hong Kong's strengths as a hub for global start-ups, research and development and business expansion. The Senior Manager, New Ventures Development at Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Ms Josephine Chan, and Associate Director of Ecosystem Development (Artificial Intelligence) at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited Mr Sean Chen also shared the latest developments in the region's vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem.
Complementing these were case studies from UK-based founders who have successfully entered the Hong Kong market with support from InvestHK. Featured speakers included the Founder of Comms8, Ms Carol Chan; Co-founder and Managing Director of HOMETAINMENT, Mr Antoine Melon; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Assureful, Mr Rohit Nair; Chief Executive Officer and Founder of upLYFT, Mr Aalok Rai; Founder of Owl + Lark, Mr Hafiz Shariff; Chief Executive Officer of Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, Ms Yang Ming; Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Guildhawk, Ms Jurga Zilinskiene. Their experiences reflect the diversity of sectors, from artificial intelligence (AI) and lifestyle to technology-enabled marketing and consumer products, where British businesses are thriving in Hong Kong's vibrant and globally connected economy.
InvestHK also co-organised a networking reception with the London ETO on June 9 (London time) for participants of the London Tech Week to promote business opportunities in Hong Kong, attracting over 130 participants from the UK Government, as well as the financial, innovation and technology, and business sectors.
Ms Ip said, "Hong Kong is a dynamic launch pad for British entrepreneurs to Asia's fastest-growing markets in innovation, backed by over HK$200 billion in government support for technology growth in AI, biotech, Web3, and more. With initiatives like the Top Talent Pass Scheme and access to the 87 million consumers with a Gross Domestic Product of US$2 trillion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong offers start-ups and scale-ups unparalleled opportunities. This week's engagement reflects the strong appetite for collaboration between our two technology ecosystems. We see great potential for long-term partnerships that drive global innovation and growth."
According to InvestHK's 2024 Startup Survey, the UK is the second-largest source of international start-up founders in Hong Kong, underscoring the city's strong appeal among British entrepreneurs.
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and London ETO strengthen HKSAR-UK innovation ties at London Tech Week 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB reminds parents to choose primary schools under Central Allocation process for their children
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (January 12) reminded parents that children who have joined the Primary One Admission (POA) System for 2026 but have not yet secured a discretionary place can take part in the Central Allocation process for a Primary One (P1) place in a government or aided primary school. Parents concerned should make their choice of schools within the period from January 19 to 25.
Digitalisation of POA
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In line with the Smart Government strategy, the EDB has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to "iAM Smart+" may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 19 to 25 through the ePOA. Please refer to the related videos and Parent's Guide on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging into an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.
Making school choices at Central Allocation Centres
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The EDB will send letters to parents on January 14 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 24 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 25 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.
Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 19 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.
Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 25. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who have submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling out in advance.
In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.
Unable to submit application within specified choice-making period
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For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to the Central Allocation Centre to proceed with the related procedures.
To apply for POA 2026 for their children after January 25, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.
Change of residential address
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An EDB spokesman reminded parents that, if they have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future, they are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.
The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address by parents for their children's POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases.
Mechanism of Central Allocation
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Central Allocation is composed of two parts. Part A, which takes up 10 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation, is for unrestricted school choices. Parents can choose up to three government or aided primary schools in any school net. Part B takes up the remaining 90 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation. Parents of applicant children residing in the school net concerned are to select schools from the "Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (Primary One Admission 2026)" of their school net, while parents of applicant children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong are to select schools from the "2026 Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)". Parents should fill in the Choice of Schools Form in the order of their preference.
The mechanism of the Central Allocation is based on parents' choices in general. The computer-programmed allocation will first process the school choices in Part A and then the school choices in Part B. For oversubscribed schools, the order of priority in allocating places will be determined by random numbers generated by the computer for individual applicants to ensure fairness.
For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB's 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.
Release of Central Allocation results
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For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+", they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 3. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 3 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post on June 3 and 4.
Source: AI-found images
