Hong Kong Celebrates Chinese New Year with Dinner in Singapore, Strengthening Economic Ties and Cultural Exchange

Singapore ETO holds dinner with local community to celebrate Year of Horse and promote Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a dinner at the Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore yesterday (February 25) to celebrate the Year of the Horse with the Singapore community and promote Hong Kong.

Over 200 guests attended the Chinese New Year dinner, including the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming; the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, Mr Eduardo Pedrosa; and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other guests came from the government sector, foreign embassies in Singapore,business associations, academic institutions, cultural organisations as well as the local Hong Kong community.

In her welcome speech, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, highlighted the close and long-standing partnership between Hong Kong and Singapore, underpinned by strong economic and trade ties and sustained high-level exchanges, as manifested by the meeting between the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, on the sidelines of the APEC meetings last October.

Ms Hung took the opportunity to introduce the key initiatives featured in the 2026-27 Budget delivered by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, yesterday, including proactive alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerating development in the Northern Metropolis, advancing AI industrialisation and adoption, boosting new quality productive forces, enhancing intellectual property trading and emerging sectors like aerospace, attracting high-calibre talent and strategic enterprises, enhancing support for family offices and regional headquarters through potential tax incentives, and continuing to support Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global.

At the dinner, Hong Kong musicians Anna Lo and Rick Lau performed as guest artistes, presenting a selection of the widely acclaimed Hong Kong cabaret production "LauZone". Through songs written in a variety of dialects, they portrayed Hong Kong's unique character as a cultural melting pot, enabling the Singapore audience to find resonance in the stories told. The duo will also take part in the Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 organised by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (the Esplanade), where they will stage three performances of "LauZone" on February 27 and 28, with support from the Esplanade and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Ms Hung concluded by highlighting Hong Kong's unique advantage of being the only city connected to both the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world under the "one country, two systems" framework, serving the dual role of "super connector" and "super value-adder" to actively explore new growth areas and promote high-quality economic development. The Singapore ETO will continue to work closely with partners in Singapore and the region to promote Hong Kong and foster broader and deeper collaboration through initiatives such as the Economic and Trade Express platform, which brings together the global network of all ETOs, Invest Hong Kong and the HKTDC to support enterprises in going global and expanding regionally.

Singapore ETO will host Chinese New Year dinners in Manila, the Philippines, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on February 27 and March 14 respectively to further strengthen ties and exchanges with local communities in the two places.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore hosted a dinner at the Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore yesterday (February 25) to celebrate the Year of the Horse with the Singapore community and promote Hong Kong. Over 200 guests attended the Chinese New Year dinner, including the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming; the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, Mr Eduardo Pedrosa; and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other guests came from the government sector, foreign embassies in Singapore, business associations, academic institutions, cultural organisations as well as the local Hong Kong community. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore hosted a dinner at the Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore yesterday (February 25) to celebrate the Year of the Horse with the Singapore community and promote Hong Kong. Over 200 guests attended the Chinese New Year dinner, including the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming; the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, Mr Eduardo Pedrosa; and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other guests came from the government sector, foreign embassies in Singapore, business associations, academic institutions, cultural organisations as well as the local Hong Kong community. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows Hong Kong musicians Anna Lo (first left) and Rick Lau (first right), who performed as guest artistes, presenting a selection of the widely acclaimed Hong Kong cabaret production "LauZone". Through songs written in a variety of dialects, they portrayed Hong Kong's unique character as a cultural melting pot, enabling the Singapore audience to find resonance in the stories told. The duo will also take part in the Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 organised by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (the Esplanade), where they will stage three performances of "LauZone" on February 27 and 28, with support from the Esplanade and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows Hong Kong musicians Anna Lo (first left) and Rick Lau (first right), who performed as guest artistes, presenting a selection of the widely acclaimed Hong Kong cabaret production "LauZone". Through songs written in a variety of dialects, they portrayed Hong Kong's unique character as a cultural melting pot, enabling the Singapore audience to find resonance in the stories told. The duo will also take part in the Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 organised by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (the Esplanade), where they will stage three performances of "LauZone" on February 27 and 28, with support from the Esplanade and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, delivering a welcoming speech at the dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, delivering a welcoming speech at the dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows Mr Cao (centre); the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (left); and the outgoing Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung (right), after dotting the eyes of the lions that performed in the lion dance. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows Mr Cao (centre); the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (second right); and the outgoing Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung (second left), toasting with guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a dinner at the Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore yesterday (February 25) to celebrate the Year of the Horse with the Singapore community and promote Hong Kong. Over 200 guests attended the Chinese New Year dinner, including the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming; the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, Mr Eduardo Pedrosa; and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other guests came from the government sector, foreign embassies in Singapore, business associations, academic institutions, cultural organisations as well as the local Hong Kong community. Photo shows Mr Cao (seventh left); Mr Pedrosa (second right); the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (seventh right); the outgoing Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung (sixth left); and guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Lunar New Year auction of vehicle registration marks this Sunday

The Transport Department today (February 26) reminded the public that the Lunar New Year auction of vehicle registration marks will be held this Sunday (March 1) at Meeting Room S221, L2, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

A total of 49 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction.Forty-eight of them are traditional vehicle registration marks (TVRMs) and one of them is a personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM).The list of marks has been posted on the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html.

People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following points:

(1) Bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:

(i)the identity document of the successful bidder;

(ii)the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;

(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and

(iv) a crossed cheque payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". Any bidder who wishes to bid for both TVRMs and the PVRM should bring along at least two crossed cheques for payment of auction prices(for an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for the mark assignment can be completed).Successful bidders may also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS), but are reminded to note the maximum transfer amount on the same day of the payment card.Payment by post-dated cheque, cash, credit card or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through the EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark or the Memorandum of Sale of Personalised Vehicle Registration Mark immediately after the bidding.Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the Memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser.The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) The display of a vehicle registration mark on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.

(5) Special vehicle registration marks are non-transferable.Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special vehicle registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special vehicle registration mark shall be cancelled.

(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the vehicle registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser.If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the registration mark will be cancelled and arranged for reallocation by the Commissioner for Transport in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes - Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html) and Guidance Notes - Auction of PVRMs (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_auction/index.html).

Source: AI-found images