Hong Kong's Ms. Maisie Ho Promotes Biotech Collaboration During Boston Visit at BIO 2025 Conference

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, Ms Maisie Ho, visited Boston, Massachusetts, from June 15 to 17 (Boston time) to foster closer ties with the city's biotechnology, research, and academic sectors. During her visit, she attended the BIO International Convention (BIO 2025), one of the world's leading global biotechnology event.

At the June 15 (Boston time) welcome dinner for the Hong Kong delegation at BIO 2025, Ms Ho highlighted Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for biotech innovation and fundraising. She also noted Hong Kong's strong presence at BIO 2025, showcasing the depth and diversity of the city's biotechnology sector, including pharmaceuticals, immunotherapies, gene editing, diagnostics and stem cell technologies.

The Hong Kong delegation included representatives from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and its delegation of 16 leading biotech portfolio companies, the medical faculties of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as representatives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. At the Hong Kong Pavilion, they showcased the city's life and health sciences capabilities, aiming to attract global enterprises, talent, and investment, and reinforcing Hong Kong's status as a global biotech hub.

At the "Hong Kong x Boston Biotech Disrupt Night" on June 16 (Boston time) hosted by Invest Hong Kong, Ms Ho spoke on Hong Kong's strategic advantages in biotechnology, citing world-class infrastructure, strong intellectual property protection, top-tier universities, and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. She also emphasised government support, funding and initiatives such as InnoLife Healthtech Hub and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme. The event, attended by over 140 biotech industry representatives and investors, also featured a panel discussion featuring Hong Kong and Boston's biotech leaders where they had an insightful exchange on the potential of Boston biotech companies in leveraging Hong Kong for their Asian market expansion.

"Hong Kong offers a nurturing environment for life sciences—combining policy support, research excellence, and regulatory certainty. As the world's second-largest fundraising hub for biotech IPOs, we also offer deep access to capital and a highly international talent pool. With our world-class infrastructure, common law system, robust IP protections, and proximity to Mainland China and Asia, we serve as a gateway and global launchpad for biotech companies aiming to scale and internationalise", she said.

While in Boston, Ms Ho also met with representatives of the academia to explore areas of mutual interests and promoted Hong Kong's various talent admission schemes and the city's commitment to become an international education and research hub. Her meetings included discussions with Visiting Fellow of Practice at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Mr Mitchell Presnick; and representatives from the University of Massachusetts Boston, including the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Mr Joseph B. Berger; the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Ms Karen Ferrer-Muñiz; and the Vice Provost of Research and Strategic Initiatives, Mr Bala Sundaram. She also attended a reception hosted by the Mayor of Boston Ms Michelle Wu for key international biotech leaders and stakeholders.

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Korea and US suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 9) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza in Yeoncheon-gun of Gyeonggi-do Province in Korea, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

Korea

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Gyeonggi-do Province

(1) Yeoncheon-gun

US

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State of North Dakota

(2) Dickey County

State of Minnesota

(3) Roseau County

State of Nebraska

(4) Cedar County

State of Kansas

(5) Greeley County

State of South Dakota

(6) Hanson County

State of Illinois

(7) Clinton County

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 80 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 11.48 million poultry eggs from Korea, and about 33 270 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 92.33 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Korean and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Source: AI-found images