HKTE Delegation Visits Hangzhou and Ningbo to Attract Talent to Hong Kong

HKTE visits Zhejiang for attracting talent

The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Felix Chan, led a delegation to visit Hangzhou and Ningbo from May 7 to 9 to attract local talent to pursue their careers in Hong Kong, and to deepen talent collaboration between Hong Kong and the two cities.

During the visit, the HKTE delegation, together with representatives from the Hong Kong Talent Entrepreneurs Association and several Hong Kong enterprises, toured the headquarters of Alibaba Group in Hangzhou to learn about the latest developments in the group's cutting-edge technologies. The delegation later met with senior officials of Zhejiang University and held two briefing sessions, one for Zhejiang University students and alumni and the other for local young professionals and entrepreneurs, to introduce to them Hong Kong's unique advantages and industrial opportunities, understand their career aspirations, and promote talent exchanges between Hong Kong and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Region.

The delegation then travelled to Ningbo to take part in a talent salon organised by the Ningbo Hongkong Fellowship Association, engaging in dialogue with local professionals and entrepreneurs to encourage quality talent to relocate to Hong Kong.

Mr Chan said, "Hangzhou has a thriving artificial intelligence industry and start-up ecosystem, while Ningbo is a key national maritime hub and the economic centre of the southern YRD Region. In addition to visiting Zhejiang University, this visit has successfully connected us with young talent and entrepreneurs with diverse professional backgrounds in Hangzhou and Ningbo. Our goal is to attract them to pursue their development in Hong Kong, thereby injecting new impetus into the city's high-quality development."

The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Felix Chan (front row, fifth left), led a delegation to host a briefing session on May 8 in Hangzhou, where they met with local talent and entrepreneurs to introduce Hong Kong's unique advantages and sector-specific opportunities, and learn about their career aspirations. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) delegation took part in a talent salon organised by the Ningbo Hongkong Fellowship Association on May 9, engaging in dialogue with local professionals and entrepreneurs to encourage quality talent to relocate to Hong Kong. Photo shows the Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan (centre), and other officiating guests at the salon. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A Hong Kong Talent Engage delegation held a briefing session at Zhejiang University on May 8, where they introduced Hong Kong's development opportunities to students and alumni of the university. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) delegation toured the headquarters of Alibaba Group in Hangzhou on May 7 to learn about the latest developments in the group's cutting-edge technologies. Photo shows the Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan (centre), and delegation members outside the group's headquarters. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival

Hong Kong cinema is the undisputed star at this year's 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), where a record 17 films will be screened under the "Hong Kong Panorama" banner, presented with the support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) from July 10 to 26 (New York time).

The centrepiece event was the presentation of the NYAFF's Best from the East Award to actor Daniel Wu on July 20 (New York time), ahead of the special screening of "Cold War 1994", honouring a career that began in Hong Kong cinema before extending into Hollywood, television and the director's chair, and bringing with him the discipline, physicality and storytelling instinct for which Hong Kong film is known.

The New York ETO hosted a special reception for Wu and other attending Hong Kong film talents before the award presentation. Speaking at the reception, Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, congratulated Wu for his contributions to Asian cinema and bringing Hong Kong storytelling sensibility through his work across film and television globally.

Ms Ho also highlighted the deep ties between Hong Kong cinema and the NYAFF, noting that Hong Kong films have been a part of the festival's identity since its earliest editions. The New York ETO has supported the festival's "Hong Kong Panorama" since 2009, introducing New York audiences to the actors, directors and screenwriters shaping Hong Kong cinema.

This year's Hong Kong Panorama builds on that legacy, showcasing five North American premieres, alongside numerous special screenings and events, with a number of Hong Kong film talents attending the festival. Ms Ho said the expanded lineup reflects both the creative vitality of Hong Kong's film industry and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's continued commitment to supporting that industry on the world stage.

Several of this year's films received support and funding from the HKSAR Government, including "Afterpiece" (financed through the Directors' Succession Scheme that pairs seasoned filmmakers with emerging directors), "Bird of Paradise" (a winning film project in the higher education institution group of the 7th First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI)), "Dog Day Evening" (financed by the Film Production Financing Scheme (Relaxation Plan)), and "Gamer Girls" (winning film project in the Higher Education Institution Group of the 6th FFFI).

Hong Kong actress Angela Yuen will receive the NYAFF's Screen International Rising Star Asia Award on July 21 (New York time), underscoring Hong Kong's strong pipeline of talent with international reach. Ms Ho congratulated Yuen for her outstanding performances on screen and on seeing her hard work and talent celebrated in New York.

This year's NYAFF's 2026 Filmmaker in Focus took audiences inside one of the most influential careers in Hong Kong cinema – the prolific and versatile director, Andrew Lau, who reflected on the craft, innovation and lasting impact of his incredible library of works, including NYAFF 2026 featured films "The Storm Riders", "Initial D" and his acclaimed new feature, "The Dumpling Queen".

In addition to Lau, Wu and Yuen, other Hong Kong filmmakers attending this year's NYAFF include actor Yukki Tai; actress Ng Wing-sze; screenwriter Annabelle Li; and directors Veronica Bassetto; Frankie Chung; Pang Ho-cheung, Keane T. K. Wong; Joey Wu; and Phillip Yung.

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cinema in spotlight at 25th New York Asian Film Festival Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images