Hong Kong Promotes Economic Ties with Korea at Seoul Reception Amid Growing Collaborations and Cultural Exchange

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (Tokyo ETO) held a reception in Seoul, Korea, today (February 12) to promote Hong Kong's latest developments and to strengthen bilateral economic ties and people-to-people exchanges. More than 150 guests attended the event, including representatives from the local government, business, academia, media and cultural sectors.

In her welcoming remarks, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, once again congratulated Korea for successfully hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings last year, which was a landmark achievement. She noted that the high-level exchanges between Hong Kong and Korea in recent years provided a valuable platform for both places to strengthen collaboration and achieve results across a wide range of areas.

She highlighted Hong Kong's unique position under the "one country, two systems" arrangement, underscoring Hong Kong's continued commitment to serving as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the Chinese Mainland, Korea and the wider region. As a measure announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has set up the Economic and Trade Express. The platform focuses on supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups by proactively organising overseas business missions including Korea, while at the same time facilitating more enterprises to invest in and establish operations in Hong Kong, thereby promoting the two-way flow of enterprises and investments.

Miss Au also remarked that Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul, held last year, showcased Hong Kong's East-meets-West creative strengths and drew over 540 000 attendees. The wide span of cultural performances and artistic showcases brought together about 800 Hong Kong and Korean artists and cultural practitioners through over 65 programmes.

Tokyo ETO will continue to work closely with regional partners, including Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, to promote economic co-operation and people-to-people exchanges.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo held a reception in Seoul, Korea, today (February 12) to promote Hong Kong's latest developments and to strengthen bilateral economic ties and people-to-people exchanges. More than 150 guests attended the event, including representatives from the local government, business, academia, media and cultural sectors. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Picture shows the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au (left), and the Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mr Dai Bing (right), toasting at the reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Picture shows the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, delivering welcoming remarks at the reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo held a reception in Seoul, Korea, today (February 12) to promote Hong Kong's latest developments and to strengthen bilateral economic ties and people-to-people exchanges. More than 150 guests attended the event, including representatives from the local government, business, academia, media and cultural sectors. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) organised Chinese New Year receptions in Barcelona, Spain, on March 4 (Barcelona time), and Dublin, Ireland, on March 5 (Dublin time), bringing together over 220 guests from local business, public and community sectors in the two countries.

Jointly organised by Brussels ETO, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), with the support of the Spain Hong Kong Business Association, the reception in Barcelona was held to coincide with the Mobile World Congress (MWC), and was well attended by guests including the Hong Kong innovation and technology (I&T) delegation attending the MWC, as well as local start-ups, enterprises and related institutions.

In her welcoming remarks, the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, highlighted that I&T had become a new growth engine for Hong Kong. "We are building a more complete innovation value chain, one that integrates basic research, commercialisation and advanced manufacturing," she said.

Ms Yung also mentioned that Hong Kong achieved a new milestone of having over 5 200 start-ups last year, representing an 11 per cent year-on-year increase. She encouraged European companies, talent and students to come to Hong Kong to leverage the opportunities arising from the rapid development of the I&T sector and related infrastructure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis.

Hong Kong's wine and liquor trade as well as related business opportunities were the special focus of the reception in Dublin. Together with the HKTDC and InvestHK, with the support of the Dublin Chamber, Brussels ETO held a business seminar before the reception with the local liquor trade to promote the business opportunities that Hong Kong offers as a leading hub for wine and liquor trading and auctions, following Hong Kong's reduction of duty on liquor with an alcoholic strength of more than 30 per cent in 2024.

Ms Yung also highlighted Hong Kong's premier role as a gateway to the Chinese Mainland and Asia, with the city strategically located at the heart of the region with world-class transport connectivity. She encouraged Irish wine and liquor traders to leverage Hong Kong as a regional hub for trading, distribution, and auctions to expand their market share on the Chinese Mainland and across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Brussels ETO holds receptions in Spain and Ireland to celebrate Chinese New Year with local communities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases