Hong Kong and Slovenia Discuss Double Taxation Agreement to Boost Bilateral Trade and Investment.

2025-09-25 12:03 Last Updated At：13:18

SFST proceeds to Poland after concluding visit to Slovenia

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Slovenia, Mr Klemen Boštjančič, again in the morning of September 24 (Ljubljana time) before proceeding to Poland for the second leg of his European visit. He said at the meeting that the visit was very fruitful, especially regarding the news that the Slovenian Government and National Assembly are deliberating on the decision to prioritise the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) negotiations with Hong Kong.

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SFST proceeds to Poland after concluding visit to Slovenia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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SFST proceeds to Poland after concluding visit to Slovenia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Slovenian governments are keen to pursue a CDTA early to reduce unnecessary tax obstacles for encouraging bilateral trade and investment. The signing of the CDTA will foster closer economic ties between Hong Kong and Slovenia, and I believe that it will be welcomed by the business communities in both places.

"Hong Kong and Slovenia have a lot in common, both being small yet significant economically and strategically with big ambitions. We both offer a diverse economy with a stable investment environment, underpinned by openness and efficiency. That makes us each perfect gateways for each other, enabling European enterprises to enter Asian and Mainland markets through Hong Kong, and Slovenia a place through which Mainland companies can access Europe," he added.

Mr Hui also highlighted to Mr Boštjančič that Hong Kong is consolidating its status as an international asset and wealth management centre. The total assets under management in Hong Kong grew by 13 per cent year on year, reaching EUR3.81 trillion by the end of 2024. Riding on the particularly stellar performance in the private banking and private wealth management sector, more facilitation measures have been announced by the Chief Executive in his 2025 Policy Address to make Hong Kong even more attractive to family offices and global high-net-worth individuals. These measures include enriching the investment options under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, enhancing the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, as well as expanding the mutual access between capital markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

He also met with the State Secretary responsible for Taxes, Customs Duties and Other Charges and for Improving the Efficiency of Public Spending of Slovenia, Ms Katja Božič, to discuss the next steps in the process of commencing the negotiations on the CDTA.

In the afternoon, Mr Hui started his itinerary in Warsaw, Poland, where he visited Lenovo Technology and met with its General Manager at Lenovo Poland, Mr Wojciech Zaskorski, and other senior members of the company to learn more about the macroeconomic situation and digitalisation of Poland, as well as the needs of Mainland companies in their expansion overseas.

Mr Hui stated that Hong Kong is striving to be the perfect platform to support Mainland companies going global. A Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global will be set up to encourage Mainland enterprises to utilise Hong Kong in expanding their businesses overseas. Hong Kong will facilitate the establishment in the city of more corporate treasury centres by Mainland companies and regional headquarters by the banking sector, particularly by Mainland banks. Hong Kong will also promote the development of carbon audit services to assist enterprises going global to meet international requirements and standards on green trade in respect of carbon emission reduction.

He reiterated that Hong Kong has an extensive pool of professionals to serve Mainland companies on their journey towards global market expansion. Using the accounting sector as an example, he said that the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants has compiled the List of accounting firms helping Mainland enterprises go global to help Mainland companies to tackle thechallenges of venturing abroad. As at mid-August, the list includes 83 Hong Kong accounting firms.

Mr Hui will visit the Warsaw Stock Exchange on September 25 (Warsaw time) and meet with Polish government officials and members of the business sector.

Hong Kong Customs dismantles drug lab, seizes $10 million in etomidate and cocaine, arrests two suspects.

Hong Kong Customs shuts down suspected etomidate and crack cocaine manufacturing centre and seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $10 million

Hong Kong Customs shut down a suspected etomidate and crack cocaine manufacturing centre and seized a batch of suspected etomidate capsules and etomidate capsule raw materials, about 1.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 500 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing paraphernalia in Tin Shui Wai on January 14. One man and one woman were arrested, and the total estimated market value of the drug seizures amounted to about $10 million.

During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tin Shui Wai in the small hours on January 14, Customs intercepted a 35-year-old man and found 50 suspected etomidate capsules in a paper bag carried by him. The man was arrested immediately and was brought to a nearby premises for a search. Later, Customs officers seized 267 suspected etomidate capsules, about 1.75kg of suspected etomidate powder, about 1.4kg of suspected etomidate oil, about 1.2kg of suspected cocaine, about 500g of suspected crack cocaine and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing paraphernalia in the premises. A woman, aged 26 and suspected to be connected with the case, was arrested there.

The arrested persons were jointly charged with two counts of manufacture of a dangerous drug and one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and the arrested man was additionally charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 17).

According to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, manufacture of a dangerous drug and trafficking in a dangerous drug are serious offences. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong and Slovenia Discuss Double Taxation Agreement to Boost Bilateral Trade and Investment.

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