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

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. 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 Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases