Speech by DCS at opening ceremony of Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show
Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the opening ceremony of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show today (January 30):
Deputy Commissioner Hua (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Hua You), Mr Zhu Jianping (Head of Sports Section of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR),President Lester Huang (President, Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show), Chairman Liao (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Martin Liao), Rosanna (Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law), distinguished guests, riders and horse lovers, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I'm most delighted to join you for the opening ceremony of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, which is the second edition after last year’s spectacular success.
This magnificent, three-day showcase of equestrian sport and non-stop entertainment features world-class showjumping. The very best horses and riders from around the world will compete for more than HK$5 million in total prize money.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Asian Youth Challenge puts a bright spotlight on the region's top young talent aged 14 to 18, including rising stars from Hong Kong. The Shetland pony races, dog agility competitions, artistic performances and a great deal more are also part of this grand gathering connecting Hong Kong with the global equestrian community.
Equestrian sport has long been a highlight of Hong Kong. We hosted the equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games, and we've been passionate about horse racing since the 1840s. Events such as this Horse Show inspire our youth and strengthen our status as a premier destination for outstanding sports competitions and major cultural events. It also underlines Hong Kong's status as the world's East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
My thanks go to the organiser, Clarion Events Asia, and to the HPower Group, for its sports and equestrian management. I must also profusely thank the dedicated strategic partner, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as the FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale), the world governing body for equestrian sport. And to all the other sponsors, partners, officials and volunteers involved, my big thanks for your concerted efforts in making this excellent "M" Mark event possible. To the riders and their teams, I wish you all exceptional performances and a memorable stay in Hong Kong.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Year of the Horse is just around the corner. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises vitality, endurance and progress. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Horse. Thank you very much.
Source: AI-found images
SCED promotes Hong Kong's unique advantages as two-way platform in Malaysia
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, on his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (January 30) officiated at a Chinese New Year dinner hosted by the newly established Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur ETO) to celebrate the festive season with various sectors of the local community and deepen links between the two places.
This was the first-ever large-scale event organised by the new ETO in Kuala Lumpur after its establishment last December. Speaking to some 400 guests at the dinner, Mr Yau thanked the Malaysian government for supporting the setting up of the ETO in the capital city, adding that it is an important milestone in the already close and solid ties between Malaysia and Hong Kong, and also a clear testament to the shared commitment to deepening bilateral co-operation. From January to October 2025, bilateral trade reached US$21.5 billion, making both places among each other's top 10 trading partners.
Mr Yau highlighted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a whole is also rapidly emerging as a strong global economic power, projected to become the world's fourth-largest economic bloc by 2030. As Hong Kong's fourth ETO in ASEAN, the Kuala Lumpur ETO will also be responsible for advancing Hong Kong's economic and trade ties with Brunei Darussalam, Laos and Pakistan, and is therefore playing a strategic role for Hong Kong to deepen engagement in this dynamic region.
While Malaysia plays an important role in linking ASEAN with the wider global economy, Mr Yau said that Hong Kong serves as both a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" under the "one country, two systems" principle to connect the Chinese Mainland with the world. He also shared with the guests Hong Kong's latest initiatives to give full play to the city's role as a two-way platform.
"We launched a dedicated task force in October last year, under my steer, to co-ordinate the efforts of our Government and our executive agencies to provide more focused, tailor-made support to help enterprises on the Chinese Mainland to expand globally. They can fully utilise the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, as well as our global connections, to extend their operations overseas," he said.
Meanwhile, the number of companies coming from outside Hong Kong rose to 11 000 in 2025, representing an 11 per cent growth and a record high. Mr Yau noted that those from overseas countries did not come solely for Hong Kong's domestic market but also for the huge market potential on the Chinese Mainland, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He encouraged Malaysian enterprises to make use of Hong Kong as a platform to expand their businesses to the Chinese Mainland. A dedicated team for attracting businesses and talents to be set up in the Kuala Lumpur ETO will also provide assistance.
Dignitaries attending the dinner included the Minister of Transport of Malaysia, Mr Anthony Loke; the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing; the President of the Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association, Dato' Dixon Chew, and other business leaders. Representatives from the local government, media and cultural sectors also attended.
Earlier in the day, Mr Yau had a lunch meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Mr Liew Chin Tong, and the Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Sim Tze Tzin, to give them an update on Hong Kong's latest developments and to exchange views on various economic and trade issues. Before the lunch meeting, Mr Yau toured a historic building to gain a deeper appreciation of the history and heritage of Malaysia.
Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, to brief him on Hong Kong's new measures for attracting enterprises and investment to inject economic impetus, including the Northern Metropolis development and thesetting up of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global. They also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between the two places with the establishment of the Kuala Lumper ETO.
During the visit, Mr Yau took the opportunity to visit a potential site for the ETO's long-term office to learn more about the preparatory work. He was also briefed by the ETO staff on their efforts to establish local connections since the ETO has commenced operations.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (January 31).
Source: AI-found images
