Singapore ETO Celebrates Chinese New Year in Ho Chi Minh City to Strengthen Vietnam Ties

Singapore ETO holds Chinese New Year dinner in Vietnam to promote closer relationship

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong.

Jointly organised with the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV) and supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the dinner welcomed over 100 guests, including the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in HCMC, Mr Tang Li; the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu; the Director of Indochina of the HKTDC, Ms Tina Phan; and representatives from government and business sectors, chambers of commerce, and Hong Kong communities in Vietnam. During the dinner, cultural performances were presented, including lion dance performances and live renditions of Chinese and Vietnamese music by a band and performers.

Speaking at the dinner, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, recapped the multi-front work and achievements of Hong Kong and Vietnam collaborative efforts. Last December, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr Ho Duc Phoc in Hong Kong to exchange views on deepening co-operation between the two places. In the same month, the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, led a delegation to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to explore business opportunities.

Ms Hung highlighted the growing economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. In 2025, Vietnam became Hong Kong's third-largest merchandise trading partner, with a total trade volume increasing by an average of 25 per cent annually since 2021. Among the 11 ASEAN member states, Vietnam has risen to become Hong Kong's largest trading partner in terms of merchandise trade. In addition, exchanges between people of the two places have intensified. For instance, in terms of tourism, the number of Vietnamese visitors to Hong Kong increased by 35 per cent last year compared with 2024.

Ms Hung concluded that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world. The Singapore ETO will align with and support Hong Kong’s strategic directions, such as promoting the one-stop Economic and Trade Express (ETE) platform, through the collective efforts of the global network of ETOs, Invest Hong Kong, and the HKTDC, to assist enterprises in going global while attracting more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong.

The Singapore ETO held two Chinese New Year dinners - one in Singapore on February 25 and another in Manila, the Philippines, on February 27 - to further strengthen ties and exchanges with local communities.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. During the dinner, cultural performances were presented, including lion dance performances. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Jointly organised with the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam and supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the dinner welcomed over 100 guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Photo shows the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, giving a speech at the dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Photo shows the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in HCMC, Mr Tang Li (fifth left); the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (sixth left); the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu (fifth right); and the Director of Indochina of the HKTDC, Ms Tina Phan (sixth right), toasting with guests. 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