Hong Kong Promotes Business Advantages at Tokyo Seminar, Highlighting Economic Ties with Japan

Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong's business advantages through Economic and Trade Express platform in Tokyo

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (Tokyo ETO), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest Hong Kong, organised a business seminar in Tokyo, Japan, today (March 2) through the Economic and Trade Expressplatform to promote Hong Kong's business advantages and introduce the latest initiatives announced in the Budget. About 250 guests attended the seminar, including representatives from the business, academic, media and creative sectors.

Speaking at the seminar, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, said that Japan is Hong Kong's sixth-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and Japan reached HK$336 billion last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.2 per cent. She added that around 1 500 Japanese companies are currently operating in Hong Kong, forming the largest overseas business community in the city and fully reflecting Japanese enterprises' confidence in Hong Kong's business environment.

Miss Au further noted that Hong Kong not only maintains a highly open business environment, but is also proactively enhancing its infrastructure and strengthening the city's overall competitiveness, thereby creating more favourable conditions for overseas enterprises to establish and expand their business in the region through Hong Kong.

At the seminar, the Director, Japan, of HKTDC, Mr Benjamin Yau, highlighted its proactive role in fostering closer economic synergy between Hong Kong and Japan. He also mentioned a series of high-level summits and flagship and mega events in Hong Kong, including the Asian Financial Forum, the Asia Summit on Global Health and the International Jewellery Show.

Deputy Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of Tokyo ETO Mr Yasunori Sugiyama elaborated on Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework, emphasising that Hong Kong continues to enjoy unique strengths in connectivity, internationalisation, diversity and inclusiveness. He further outlined the Government's multipronged measures to promote the development of the family office sector, including enhancing tax arrangements and implementing the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme.

The Deputy Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Mr Leo Tze, highlighted Hong Kong's role as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre, and outlined the Government's continued efforts to drive IP trading and financing activities. He also highlighted Hong Kong's latest offerings as Asia's events capital, noting that since its commissioning, the Kai Tak Sports Park has hosted a number of major sports and entertainment events. Last year, the park's main stadium ranked third globally in ticket sales and fifth worldwide in total gross revenue, placing first in Asia in both categories.

Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong's business advantages through Economic and Trade Express platform in Tokyo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong's business advantages through Economic and Trade Express platform in Tokyo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong's business advantages through Economic and Trade Express platform in Tokyo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tokyo ETO promotes Hong Kong's business advantages through Economic and Trade Express platform in Tokyo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (March 2) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

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