Sydney ETO Supports Australian Dragon Boat Championships, Showcasing Cultural Ties and Sports Heritage

Sydney ETO supports Australian Dragon Boat Championships

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is supporting the Australian Dragon Boat Championships (AusChamps) being held in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, from April 18 to 23 to showcase Hong Kong's dynamic sports culture and longstanding dragon boat racing tradition.

Organised annually by the Australian Dragon Boat Federation (AusDBF) at different locations in Australia since 1996, the AusChamps attracts more than 2 500 paddlers from across Australia, spanning a wide range of age groups from 12 to over 70, competing for national honours. This year's event marks the fifth occasion that Queensland has hosted the races. Two of the 1 000-metre races were named the "HKETO Premier Open Standard" and the "HKETO Premier Open Small Boat", with the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, presenting medals to the winning teams yesterday (April 18).

Speaking at the Welcome Function, Mr Chong remarked that the Sydney ETO was delighted to support this signature event hosted by the AusDBF and Dragon Boat Queensland. Dragon boating has deep roots in Hong Kong's heritage and has evolved into a global sport, bringing people together from all walks of life. He added that the event fully showcases the vibrancy of Australia’s multicultural diversity and the close ties between Hong Kong and Australia.

The Sydney ETO will continue to support cultural and sports exchanges to keep building connections between Hong Kong and Australia and actively promote Hong Kong as a centre for major international sporting events.

The Australian Dragon Boat Championships is being held in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, from April 18 to 23. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney, Mr Ricky Chong, delivers a speech at the Welcoming Function of the Australian Dragon Boat Championships yesterday (April 18). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is supporting the Australian Dragon Boat Championships being held in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, from April 18 to 23 to promote Hong Kong's dynamic sports culture and longstanding dragon boat racing tradition. Photo shows the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong (third row, third left), with a winning team at the Australian Dragon Boat Championships yesterday (April 18). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is supporting the Australian Dragon Boat Championships being held in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, from April 18 to 23 to promote Hong Kong's dynamic sports culture and longstanding dragon boat racing tradition. Photo shows the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong (first right), presenting medals to the winning team of the "HKETO Premier Open Standard" yesterday (April 18). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government announces third batch of projects recommended for funding support under RAISe+ Scheme

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) announced today (April 20) the third batch of 24 projects recommended by the Steering Committee of the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme for funding support (see Annex). The total Government funding commitment amounts to over $1 billion.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, expressed his gratitude to the Steering Committee for vetting the new round of applications and the recommendations made. He said, "The third batch of projects recommended for funding support covers a wide range of innovation and technology (I&T) areas, including health and medical sciences, new materials and new energy, AI and robotics, computer science/information technology, electrical and electronic engineering, and advanced manufacturing, etc. It is a clear testament to Hong Kong's research and development (R&D) capabilities and vibrant I&T ecosystem. The Government will continue to proactively promote the commercialisation of local R&D outcomes through the RAISe+ Scheme, with the aim to fostering effective collaboration among the Government, industry, academia and research sectors, injecting new momentum into local I&T development, and expediting the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, thereby contributing tohigh-leveltechnological self-reliance of our country."

The ITC is following up with the universities concerned on the projects recommended for funding support for their smooth implementation, in order to nurture more I&T projects and start-ups with potential through the Scheme, thereby further driving Hong Kong's high-quality development.

With a funding allocation of $10 billion, the RAISe+ Scheme was launched in 2023 to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from the University Grants Committee-funded universities with good potential to become successful start-ups. Each approved project may receive funding support that ranges from $10 million to $100 million. Assessment criteria of the Scheme include the I&T component of the project, the commercial viability of project outcomes, the technical and management capability of the team, relevance of the project with Government policies or in the overall interest of the community, as well as the financial considerations of the project. In the first two rounds of applications, 49 projects were supported by the Scheme with the total Government funding commitment amounting to over $2 billion.

Details of the Scheme are available on its dedicated website (www.itf.gov.hk/en/raiseplus). For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Scheme (Tel: 3543 5904; email: raiseplus@itc.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images