Hong Kong Celebrates Chinese New Year in Penang, Strengthening Malaysia Ties and Business Opportunities

HKETO Kuala Lumpur celebrates Year of Horse in Penang

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur (HKETO Kuala Lumpur) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Penang, Malaysia, today (January 23) to celebrate the Year of the Horse. The Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, and the Chief Minister of Penang, Mr Chow Kon Yeow, officiated at the event.

In her welcome speech, Miss Cheng said that Hong Kong's commercial ties with Malaysia have grown from strength to strength. Bilateral trade in goods in the first three quarters of 2025 amounted to US$24 billion, representing a year-on-year hike of 25 per cent. She also thanked the Malaysian Government and different sectors of the community for their support, contributing to the smooth commencement of operation of the HKETO Kuala Lumpur in December 2025.

"In tandem with the series of measures rolled out by the Chief Executive in his latest Policy Address, including the establishment of the Economic and Trade Express platform and the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, the HKSAR Government will endeavour to assist Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong enterprises to explore business opportunities in Penang and other parts of Malaysia. I also encourage Penang businessmen to leverage the Hong Kong platform to tap into the immense potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, especially the various I&T and development projects in the Northern Metropolis."

She added that Hong Kong will continue to consolidate its people-to-people bonds with Penang, including promoting Chinese culture through mega events such as the Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta and fostering youth exchange by attracting more students to pursue further studies in Hong Kong under the "Study in Hong Kong" brand.

"The frequency of passenger flights between Hong Kong and Penang has further increased to thrice daily, laying a solid foundation for interactions in different facets. This also facilitates global tourists to visit Penang via Hong Kong International Airport, echoing the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. With the efforts of the HKETO Kuala Lumpur, our bilateral relations will become even closer."

Also attending the dinner were the Chinese Consul-General in Penang, Mr Zhou Youbin; the Regional Director of South East Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Leung Kwan-ho; the President of the Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association, Dato' Dixon Chew; the Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr Wong Hon Wai, and some 300 leaders of the local government and business sectors.

HKETO Kuala Lumpur celebrates Year of Horse in Penang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Kuala Lumpur celebrates Year of Horse in Penang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Kuala Lumpur celebrates Year of Horse in Penang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Kuala Lumpur celebrates Year of Horse in Penang Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs

The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs and distribute booklets to remind stall operators of food safety.

A spokesman for the CFS said today (February 14) that, to safeguard food safety and public health, CFS officers have provided health education on food safety and hygiene and distributed booklets to person-in-charge of fast food stalls at various LNY fairs, reminding them to pay more attention to food safety and environmental hygiene and take food safety measures in their operations for producing and supplying wholesome and safe food.

Moreover, the CFS has collected food samples, including mock sharks-fin soup, stinky tofu, curry fish ball and Shanghai style steamed pork dumpling, from the fast food stalls at LNY fairs for microbiological tests.

The CFS urges food business operators and food handlers to adopt the following measures to ensure food safety:

order food ingredients from reliable suppliers;

keep hands and utensils clean, and food handlers should wash or sanitise their hands thoroughly before preparing food;

separate raw and cooked food, such as using separate knives and chopping boards to handle raw and cooked food;

cook food thoroughly with the core temperature of all ingredients reaching 75 degrees Celsius or above for at least 30 seconds;

keep food at safe temperatures that hot food should be kept at above 60 degrees C while cold food should be properly covered and neatly stored at 4 degrees C or below in the refrigerator; and

avoid keeping food under room temperature for prolonged period, and follow the "two-hour/four-hour rule" in cases without temperature control, i.e. if cooked food is kept at room temperature for less than two hours, it can be refrigerated for later use or consumed within four-hour time limit; if cooked food has been kept at room temperature for more than two hours and less than four hours, it should be consumed within the four-hour time limit but cannot be refrigerated again. Cooked food that has been held at room temperature for more than four hours should be discarded.

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS inspects fast food stalls at Lunar New Year fairs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases