Brussels ETO Celebrates Chinese New Year with Local Communities in Spain and Ireland, Highlighting Innovation and Trade Opportunities

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.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows local guests mingling after the business seminar in Dublin, Ireland, on March 5 (Dublin time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows (from left) the Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Chamber, Ms Mary Rose Burke; Deputy Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the Invest Hong Kong Brussels Office Mr Fernando De La Cal Gonzalez; the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung; the Director of United Kingdom, Nordics and Ireland of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Joey Ko; and Deputy Representative of Brussels ETO Mr Kasper Ng, toasting at the Chinese New Year reception in Dublin, Ireland, on March 5 (Dublin time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows (from left) Deputy Representative of Brussels ETO Mr Kasper Ng; the President of the Spain Hong Kong Business Association, Mr Ricardo Ferrer; the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung; the Director of France, Spain and Portugal of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Christopher Lai; and the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the Invest Hong Kong Brussels office, Ms Paula Kant, toasting at the Chinese New Year reception in Barcelona, Spain, on March 4 (Barcelona time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows local guests attending the Chinese New Year reception in Barcelona, Spain, on March 4 (Barcelona time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, speaking at the Chinese New Year reception in Dublin, Ireland, on March 5 (Dublin time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels continues to hold Chinese New Year celebrations in Europe. Photo shows the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, speaking at the Chinese New Year reception in Barcelona, Spain, on March 4 (Barcelona time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units

Today (April 21) is the second day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Ten middle-zone floors of Wang Sun House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.

A total of 77 households (271 people) registered to return to their units today through the "one social worker per household" service, while 78 households (275 people) actually turned up (one household reported sick and absent yesterday joined the arrangement today). The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was one hour and 48 minutes, with the shortest time being 21 minutes and the longest three hours and 25 minutes. About 13 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour. A total of 14 households (34 people) went up and down the building more than once within three hours. Among them, eight households (23 people) made one additional trip, four households (eight people) made two additional trips, while one household (one person) made four additional trips, with the highest record of one person of one household making five additional trips and another making four additional trips.

The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received 11 cases of requesting police assistance and two cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort, as well as two cases seeking psychological counselling services.

The 11 cases of requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including camera, jewellery and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and lost property was recovered in four cases. In another four, the units concerned were severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. For the remaining three cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units and the residents could not provide details on the concerned property.

After reviewing the experience from the first day of arrangements, two adjustments have been made on site starting today:

(1) expanding the personal protective equipment donning area at Kwong Fuk Community Hall, adding more tables and chairs, and setting up more marquees for rain protection; and

(2) adding more tables and chairs in the resident waiting area at Tai Po Baptist Public School, and expanding the on-site storage area to facilitate residents while they wait for transport.

Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department, and the Housing Bureau, and staff mobilised from other departments, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members to fully support residents returning to their units.

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases