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.

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO holds reception in Seoul to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS urges public not to consume batch of prepackaged rice with excessive cadmium found

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 12) urged the public not to consume a batch of prepackaged rice, which was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Produce name: Rice

Brand: Acquerello

Place of origin: Italy

Net weight: 500 grams

Best-before date: February 17, 2032

Importer: Bright View Trading HK Limited

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.24 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.2 ppm," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales, remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline at 3860 1900 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," the spokesman added.

According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The CFS will alert the Italian authorities and the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-found images