London ETO and InvestHK support Walpole APAC Forum to promote Hong Kong's business advantages
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (London ETO) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) supported the Walpole APAC Forum (the Forum) in London on June 15 (London time), promoting Hong Kong's role as an ideal springboard for United Kingdom (UK) luxury brands seeking to expand across Asia.
Organised by Walpole, an organisation representing British luxury brands, the Forum brought together senior executives and industry leaders from the retail, travel, marketing and professional services sectors. The programme covered market trends, consumer insights and branding strategies across the Asia-Pacific region, with particular focus on opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Forum was attended by about 60 participants from the relevant sectors.
In her welcome remarks, the Director-General of the London ETO, Miss Fiona Chau, highlighted Hong Kong's distinctive role as a natural starting point for brands seeking to enter and scale in Asia. She said Hong Kong thrives on a robust common law system, strong intellectual property protection, free flow of capital, a simple and competitive tax regime, world-class logistics, and a diverse talent pool. She also promoted the launch of The Festival of Connoisseurs in Hong Kong later this year.
The Head of Consumer and Hospitality of InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, spoke at the discussion panel, she said, "Hong Kong remains a competitive and resilient luxury market, underpinned by steady wealth growth, a growing ultra-high-net-worth population and a gradual recovery in retail performance. As an international gateway between Chinese Mainland and the international market, Hong Kong brings together a diverse and discerning consumer base. Coupled with its proximity to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the city provides an ideal platform for UK luxury brands to enter, test and scale their presence across Asia, supported by strong market fundamentals and excellent regional connectivity."
During the Forum, the London ETO and InvestHK exchanged views with representatives of British luxury brands and other industry stakeholders, introducing Hong Kong's latest business environment and development opportunities, and encouraging companies to leverage Hong Kong as an important base for expanding into Asian markets and further developing their business in the region.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and Invest Hong Kong supported the Walpole APAC Forum (the Forum) in London on June 15 (London time), promoting Hong Kong's role as an ideal springboard for brands seeking to expand across Asia. The Forum was attended by about 60 guests, including representatives from luxury brands, retail groups, professional services firms, marketing and branding agencies, travel and hospitality sectors, and organisations with an interest in the Asia-Pacific market. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) supported the Walpole APAC Forum (the Forum) in London on June 15 (London time), promoting Hong Kong's role as an ideal springboard for brands seeking to expand across Asia. Photo shows the Head of Consumer and Hospitality of InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, speaking at the Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (London ETO) and Invest Hong Kong supported the Walpole APAC Forum (the Forum) in London on June 15 (London time), promoting Hong Kong's role as an ideal springboard for brands seeking to expand across Asia. Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Miss Fiona Chau, speaking at the Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Housing Authority's estimated PRH allocation for 2026/27 records yearly increase of over 6 000 flats with estimated number of flats to be allocated to PRH applicants reaching 10-year high
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (June 18) approved the estimated public rental housing (PRH) allocation for 2026-27 and noted the actual allocation in 2025-26.
Estimated allocation surges as public housing production heads for breakthroughs
A spokesman for the HA said that the HA's actual allocation in 2025-26 has reached a total of 28 280 flats. Under the current-term Government's unremitting efforts to "enhance speed, quantity, quality and efficiency", the PRH production forecasts in 2026-27 will significantly increase by 44 per cent (i.e. about 6 900 flats) as compared with the previous year, bringing the estimated number of PRH flats available for allocation to approximately 34 500 (including about 14 600 new flats and about 19 900 recovered flats). The overall estimates are over 15 per cent higher than the estimates in 2025-26, of which the number of new flats has increased by 66 per cent (i.e. about 5 800) in comparison with the previous year.
Among the flats available for allocation in 2026-27, 26 750 flats (i.e. 77.5 per cent) will be allocated to PRH applicants. This represents an increase of over 70 per cent as compared with the annual average of 15 700 flats for the past three years before the current-term Government assumed office. Meanwhile, the estimated number of flats to be allocated to PRH applicants has reached a 10-year high.
Sufficient flats reserved for clearance and redevelopment
As regards other categories of applicants, the HA will reserve 1 300 flats for rehousing residents affected by clearance projects planned by various departments, and residents affected by other Government's squatter clearances, emergency clearances, unauthorised rooftop structure clearances and so forth. Among them, 300 flats will be set aside for rehousing residents affected by the Urban Renewal Authority's redevelopment projects scheduled for 2026-27.
Meanwhile, the HA will also reserve 1 150 flats under the category of the HA's Estate Clearance and Major Repairs to facilitate the clearance programmes of Wah Fu Estate, Choi Hung Estate, Sai Wan Estate and Ma Tau Wai Estate.
Making every effort to cater for Compassionate Rehousing and flexibly reserve flats to meet transfer needs
In the past, the HA has long handled all demands for Compassionate Rehousing (CR) as recommended by the Social Welfare Department without setting any upper limit. The HA will reserve 300 flats for allocation under the CR category in 2026-27.
Under the category of Transfers, an estimate of 4 000 flats will be reserved for various transfer purposes in 2026-27, among which a quota of 1 300 will be used for the transfer of under-occupation households so that more large flats can be recovered for easing the pressing demand of applicants with four or more household members. Moreover, the HA will reserve around 1 000 flats for the Transfer Scheme for Improving the Living Environment. The remaining 1 700 flats will be flexibly deployed for other transfer purposes, including Special Transfer, the Harmonious Families Transfer Scheme and transfers under the Full Rent Exemption Scheme for Elderly Households.
For the category of Junior Civil Servants, the HA will continue to reserve 1 000 flats under the Civil Service Public Housing Quota Scheme in 2026-27.
Efficient use of resources for flexible allocation
The HA makes annual projections of the supply of PRH flats that can be allocated in the coming year and how such flats will be allocated to the various categories of demands. The HA will closely monitor any changes in society and maintain flexibility in the allocation of PRH flats to optimise the use of resources.
The breakdown of estimated allocations for various categories in 2026-27 is available in the Annex.
Source: AI-found images
