HKSAR Honors Athletes at National Games Commendation Ceremony

CE officiates at commendation ceremony for HKSAR Delegations to 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games of People's Republic of China

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held the commendation ceremony for the HKSAR Delegations to the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) of the People's Republic of China at the Ma On Shan Sports Centre this afternoon (February 12) to commend athletes for their outstanding achievements in the Games.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the ceremony and presented certificates of commendation to medalists and prize winners in the Games.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee said that the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG were jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, which fully demonstrated our country's firm support for the collaborative development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It also signified Hong Kong's practical integration into the overall development of our country which is of great significance and profound impact.

Mr Lee added that the Government’s estimated expenditure for promoting sports development in this financial year exceeded $9.2 billion, more than doubling the $4.3 billion allocated ten years ago. The athletes' outstanding achievements reflected the enhancement of Hong Kong's sports prowess as well as the results of athletes' strenuous training, while affirming that the Government's long-standing commitment to training elite athletes and strengthening the policy on sports developments is on the right direction.

Other attending guests included the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Head of the HKSAR Delegations, Miss Rosanna Law; the President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegations, Mrs Jenny Fung; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and Honorary Adviser of the Delegations, Ms Vivian Sum; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegations, Ms Manda Chan; and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delegations, Mr Cheng King-leung.

The 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG were jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time. First-time events also included the cross-boundary marathon between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and the road cycling race spanning Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The 15th NG was held from November 9 to 21, 2025, followed by the 12thNGD and the 9thNSOG from December 8 to 15, 2025. The ever largest HKSAR Delegations comprised more than 1 300 athletes in 28 competition events and 23 mass participation events at the 15th NG; and over 280 athletes in 14 competition events and four mass participation events of the 12th NGD as well as seven events of the 9th NSOG. They achieved the best-ever performance at the 15thNG, having won 31 medals, comprising 12 gold, eight silver and 11 bronze; entered the quarter-finals in 19 events; and won one first prize, two second prizes, and one third prize in the competition events and mass participation events. At the 12thNGD and the 9thNSOG, they won 142 medals, comprising 52 gold, 50 silver and 40 bronze. The competition results and relevant information are available on the dedicated webpage set up by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ngames/2025/index.html).

Photo shows fencer Ryan Choi performing a song at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivering a speech at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows Taekwondo athletes Ho Nim-ching and Lee Pak-shun performing at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the commendation ceremony for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Delegations to the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, the People’s Republic of China today (February 12) at the Ma On Shan Sports Centre. Photo shows (first row, from thirteenth left) the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegations, Ms Manda Chan; the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delegations, Mr Cheng King-leung, the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and Honorary Adviser of the Delegations, Ms Vivian Sum; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and Head of the Delegations, Miss Rosanna Law; the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegations, Mrs Jenny Fung; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; and the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung; with members of the Delegations and other guests at the ceremony. 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