SITI Seeks Collaboration Opportunities with New Zealand at China Business Summit in Auckland

SITI attends China Business Summit in Auckland, New Zealand

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, today (June 25, Auckland time) and attended the China Business Summit co-organised by the Auckland Business Chamber and NZINC.

Before the summit, Professor Sun met with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Christopher Luxon, and briefed him on the fact that Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre under the clear support of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong possesses unique advantages in areas including AI, life and health technology and fintech, and there is immense room to deepen I&T collaboration with New Zealand. Professor Sun cordially invited research and development (R&D) institutions, start-ups and professional talent to settle in Hong Kong and seize the opportunities brought by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the country. Mr Luxon welcomed the Hong Kong delegation and expressed the hope that the two places can further enhance pragmatic co-operation in the I&T field.

In his keynote speech during the summit, Professor Sun outlined to the audience that Hong Kong is transforming from an international financial centre to a vibrant international I&T centre. He said that Hong Kong proactively promotes economic diversification and creates joint prosperity in the era with complex geopolitical situations.

Professor Sun highlighted Hong Kong's strategic I&T infrastructure, including the newly opened Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last year and the San Tin Technopole under planning. These two initiatives will form a bridge connecting global technology talent and enterprises with the GBA market of a population of 88 million and its well-developed supply chain. He also said that Hong Kong has identified AI as a core industry and is fully committed to promoting new industrialisation.

Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is a gateway to Asia's innovation frontier. New Zealand companies can reach out to the Chinese Mainland and expand to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the broader Asia-Pacific. Hong Kong has a highly open and free economy, a robust legal framework, a simple and low tax regime, strong intellectual property protection, ease of capital raising, and world-class logistics and infrastructure and is a trusted partner, a platform and a bridge to New Zealand.

Professor Sun also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay. Professor Sun briefed him on Hong Kong's latest I&T developments and measures to promote new industrialisation. Both sides exchanged views on I&T policies and on strengthening investment and co-operation opportunities between the two places.

Professor Sun also called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue, Dr Wang Xiaolong, and the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Christchurch, Ms He Ying, to introduce the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting I&T development, as well as Hong Kong's proposal to align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to elaborate on Hong Kong's continuous efforts in actively integrating into the overall layout of the country's new industrialisation.

Professor Sun visited Heidi Health, an Australian medical-AI company, in Melbourne, Australia, before departing for Auckland, New Zealand, on June 24. The company is dedicated to transforming clinical workflows through intelligent automation, with its core technologies focusing on using AI to generate medical notes and support diagnostic reasoning. Professor Sun encouraged the company to further expand its business operations in Hong Kong and strengthen collaboration with local universities as well as R&D institutions.

Professor Sun will continue his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, on June 26 (Auckland time).

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (third left), visited Heidi Health, an Australian medical-AI company, in Melbourne, Australia, before departing for Auckland, New Zealand, on June 24. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue, Dr Wang Xiaolong (right), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the China Business Summit 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand, today (June 25, Auckland time). Photo shows Professor Sun delivering a keynote speech at the summit. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), met with the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay (right), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (right), met with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Christopher Luxon (left), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported spread product suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 18) urged the public not to consume a batch of spread product imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

The Centre for Food Safety, Photo source: reference image

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese Spread

Brand: L'atelier Blini

Place of origin: France

Net weight: 175 grams

Batch number: 12262661

Use-by date: August 30, 2026

Importer: City Super Limited

Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese Spread, Photo source: online image

"The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Rappel Conso of France that the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to suspected issue with the cold chain. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.

As a precautionary measure, the importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added.

"In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish."

The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.

The CFS has contacted the French authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

Spread product, Photo source: online image