Brussels ETO celebrates John Woo at 2026 Offscreen Film Festival in Belgium
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) is supporting the "Heroic Bloodshed: A Tribute to John Woo" programme, honouring the legendary Hong Kong filmmaker, at the Offscreen Film Festival (Festival) taking place in Brussels, Belgium, from March 17 to 28 (Brussels time). The programme is sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.
The Festival is screening seven classic films by John Woo, namely "A Better Tomorrow", "A Better Tomorrow II", "The Killer", "Hard Boiled", "Bullet in the Head", "Hard Target", and "Face/Off". In addition, Asian cinema expert Julien Sévéon delivered a talk on March 19 at Cinematek, exploring Woo's early career in Hong Kong and providing insight into his international impact.
To foster cultural exchanges on this occasion, Brussels ETO hosted a reception on March 19, bringing together over 120 distinguished guests from the film industry, cultural sector, and public authorities.
Speaking at the event, the Special Representative for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, described Woo as a quintessential Hong Kong filmmaker who embodies the city's role as a cultural bridge in fostering international exchange.
She highlighted how his signature style, cultivated in Hong Kong, has influenced Hollywood filmmakers and captivated audiences worldwide, while noting that his films, rooted in Chinese storytelling traditions, have successfully showcased the cultural charisma of Hong Kong's films on the global stage.
Ms Yung stressed the HKSAR Government is committed to fostering the ongoing development of the city's arts, culture, and creative industries. "To date, a total of over HK$9 billion has been injected into the CreateSmart Initiative and the Film Development Fund. These investments and our mega events reflect our vision of positioning Hong Kong as a premier hub for international cultural exchanges,” she said.
Established in 2008, the Offscreen Film Festival is an annual non-competitive event in Brussels, Belgium showcasing cult, independent, and unconventional films from around the world.
Brussels ETO celebrates John Woo at 2026 Offscreen Film Festival in Belgium Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by FS at Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit gala dinner
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit gala dinner tonight (March 24):
Good evening. It is a great pleasure to join you at the annual Wealth for Good Summit gala dinner.
We have spoken a great deal today about legacy - why families like yours continue to build, to give back, and to stay connected across generations.
This evening, I would like to touch briefly on something that underpins every legacy: the place where it is built. And I believe that place is Hong Kong. Why Hong Kong? Let me reiterate two perspectives: first, stability and safety, and second, opportunities and quality of life.
We are living in a world marked by uncertainty and conflicts. The rules-based international order is under strain. Some even say it has been ruptured. Economic and trade policies are increasingly short-term, impulsive and driven by expedience. And wars are launched without legitimate cause.
Facing such risks and uncertainty, investors diversify by necessity. Families seeking to preserve their legacy look for a safe haven - not merely a place to park capital, but a place with institutional strengths, legal clarity and credible commitments.
This is where Hong Kong comes into play. We are part of China, and unique under the "one country, two systems" framework. We connect the world through open markets, the rule of law, robust protection of private property, a freely convertible currency pegged to the US dollar since 1983, and business practices aligned with the best international standards. These are long-standing features that characterise this city.
But Hong Kong is not only a safe harbour. It is also a city of opportunities, and a platform for growth, for connection and for the purposeful deployment of capital.
Consider our strongest backing: China. Above all, it is a stable, resilient and dynamic economy, with expanding opportunities and rising international influence. This evening, let me highlight just two points.
First, stability and steady economic growth. For more than four decades, China has advanced with sustained development and strong political stability. To foreign investors, it has demonstrated a high degree of consistency and steadiness - welcoming trade and investments, and remaining committed to opening up. It has served as a stabiliser and a powerful engine for global economic growth.
Second, technological advancement. Technology and innovation sit at the heart of China's development agenda, as enshrined in the 15th Five-Year Plan. The "DeepSeek moment" last year, and the Unitree robots at the Spring Festival Gala this year, surprised the world. But they are only the beginning. In the years ahead, you can expect more game-changing breakthroughs in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, aerospace and new energy.
For families from around the world, Hong Kong is, no doubt, the best gateway to tap the enormous opportunities on the Mainland.
Indeed, international capital and investors are optimistic about Hong Kong. Let me share a few facts and figures.
In finance, last year, our stock market rose by some 28 per cent last year, following an 18 per cent rise in 2024. The sources of capital were highly international. Around 35 per cent of the turnover came from international investors from the US (United States), Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, etc; 25 per cent from the Mainland, and 15 per cent from Hong Kong.
Asset and wealth management is also thriving. At last count, in 2024, assets under management reached US$4.5 trillion, while net inflow of fund surged by over 80 per cent to US$90 billion. We are well on track to become the world's largest cross-boundary asset and wealth management centre.
We are also opening up new frontiers, including gold and commodity trading, as well as fixed income and currency markets, which will further enrich our financial ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is attracting more and more international companies. Last year, there were more than 11 000 Mainland and foreign companies in Hong Kong, an increase of 11 per cent. Companies from the US, Japan, the UK (United Kingdom), Singapore and Germany all recorded impressive growth.
And that number is set to rise further. As China advances high-level opening up during the 15th Five-Year period, Hong Kong is well placed to serve as a two-way platform: for Mainland companies to go global, and for international companies to access the vast opportunities on the Chinese Mainland.
We are encouraging more high-potential tech companies to establish in Hong Kong. We offer land grants and tax concessions, at half rate, or even lower, as part of our preferential policy package to attract them.
Our re-domiciliation regime also took effect last year. Now companies incorporated outside Hong Kong can move their place of incorporation to Hong Kong through a simple, court-free process, while preserving corporate identity and business continuity. A number of major international insurance companies have already done so. So, please move your companies in Jersey or Cayman Islands here.
Hong Kong is keen to attract talent as well. Since the end of 2022, we have received nearly 600 000 applications under various talent admission schemes, with close to 280 000 talents already arriving in Hong Kong to pursue development opportunities.
This brings me to another outstanding aspect of Hong Kong: quality of life and connectivity. From Hong Kong you can reach the major cities in the Greater Bay Area in around an hour. From our airport, you can fly to Bangkok or Shanghai for meetings and a good business lunch, and be back in Hong Kong in the same evening. Indeed, from Hong Kong you can reach half of the world's population in five hours.
Hong Kong remains an exceptionally liveable city. I hope you will take some time to visit the Kai Tak Sports Park - to enjoy world-class sporting events like the Rugby Sevens, or a concert by Mayday. And by the way, Art Basel will open this Friday.
Education is central to any decision about where to live, and Hong Kong offers breadth and choice, including 54 international schools offering a great variety of curricula. Five of our universities are among the global top 100, three of them among the global top 20 for data science and AI, and our two medical schools are among the global top 25.
Therefore, choosing Hong Kong is not just choosing a jurisdiction to park your wealth. You are choosing a place to live, to build your dreams, and to pass on your legacies.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us this evening - and for your contribution to the Wealth for Good Summit this year.
I know you will enjoy tonight's gala dinner and the wonderful company about you.
Allow me now to propose a toast. Please raise your glasses: to the legacies you build - in your families, in the community, and in this remarkable city. And to health, prosperity, and a lifetime blessed with purpose.
Cheers.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by FS at Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit gala dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by FS at Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit gala dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
