HKETO Berlin Hosts Reception and Start-up Workshop in Vienna to Promote Hong Kong's Innovation and Trade Opportunities

HKETO Berlin promotes Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem in Austria and Slovak Republic

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) organised a reception and start-up workshop in Vienna, Austria, on March 18 (Vienna time). The events are trade and investment promotion initiative under the new Economic and Trade Express, as announced in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address.

About 200 guests from government, business and culture sectors attended the reception in Vienna co-organised by the HKETO Berlin, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). In his welcome remarks, the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, highlighted Hong Kong's latest achievements in the area of innovation and technology (I&T).

"Hong Kong is the only city in the world to host five universities in the top 100, and our research and innovation capabilities are expanding rapidly. Our commitment to promoting I&T is reflected in various I&T-related international rankings. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovationcluster was rankedfirst globallyin the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index 2025.The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has also tripled, from about 1 600 start-ups a decade ago to around 5 200 last year."

Earlier on the same day, InvestHK organised a start-up workshop in collaboration with the Global Incubator Network Austria to promote the initiatives of attracting and grooming start-ups in Hong Kong. Information about Hong Kong's vibrant start-up ecosystem and various incubation and acceleration programmes were provided to Austrian entrepreneurs and companies with an interest to develop in Hong Kong. Mr Wong also met with the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Austria and the Austrian Economic Chamber to exchange views on potential areas for further collaboration between Hong Kong and Austria.

The HKETO Berlin also hosted a reception in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on the afternoon of March 18 (Bratislava time), welcoming guests from political, government, business and cultural sectors attending the event. Mr Wong also met with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic to discuss matters of mutual interest, including potential collaboration in taxation, I&T, education, and other areas.

About HKETO Berlin

The HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Photo shows the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong (left), meeting with the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, Mr Róbert Zsembera (right), in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on March 18 (Bratislava time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin hosted a spring reception in Vienna, Austria, on March 18 (Vienna time). In collaboration with Global Incubator Network Austria, a workshop for Austrian companies was held on the same day to promote the distinctive strengths of Hong Kong's vibrant start-up ecosystem and various incubation and acceleration programmes. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a spring reception in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on March 18 (Bratislava time). Photo shows (from left) the Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia & Israel, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Chris Lo; the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong; the Chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Peter Mihók; and the Counsellor/Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Slovak Republic, Mr Wang Xiaojian. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong (right), meeting with the State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Mr Vladimír Šimoňák (left), in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on March 17 (Bratislava time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a spring reception in Vienna, Austria, on March 18 (Vienna time). Photo shows (from left) the Head of Public Relations of the HKETO Berlin, Ms Stephanie Pall; the Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia & Israel, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Chris Lo; the Regional Manager Asia/Oceania of Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Ms Rosmarie Netzer; the President of Austrian Hong Kong Society, Mr Hans Grunner; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Austria, Ms Qi Mei; the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong; the Permanent Representative of the Chinese Mission to the UN, Mr Li Song; the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of the HKETO Berlin, Dr Kim Zietlow; and the Secretary General of Austrian Hong Kong Society, Ms Wei Manske-Wang. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin hosted a spring reception in Vienna, Austria, on March 18 (Vienna time). Photo shows the performance of a cappella singing group SENZA. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a spring reception in Vienna, Austria, on March 18 (Vienna time). Photo shows the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, delivering remarks. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.3 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 20) detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million.

A female passenger, aged 39, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds in her carry-on baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.3 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases