Beijing Conference Promotes GBA Investment Opportunities to SOEs and Institutional Investors

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao join forces in Beijing to present GBA opportunities to state-owned enterprises and investment institutions

Invest Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), and the Investment Association of Central State-owned Enterprises, jointly organised a business matching conference on industrial and capital collaboration between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and investment institutions, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in Beijing today (July 27). The event aimed to introduce GBA business advantages and the latest opportunities to Beijing-based SOEs and investment institutions, encouraging them to leverage Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to expand into international markets.

This conference is one of the key investment promotion initiatives jointly organised by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, aimed at further enhancing the working mechanism of the Pan-Greater Bay Area Inward Investment Liaison Group and deepening the integration between industrial development and investment capital within the GBA. It attracted over 150 representatives from SOEs and investment institutions, fund companies, cutting-edge industry projects, and business associations, fully reflecting the strong interest of various sectors in the development opportunities of the GBA.

At the conference, representatives from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao delivered presentations to introduce the latest developments and the investment environment of the GBA, further demonstrating the GBA's potential to local SOEs.

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province Mr Zhu Xiaojun said that the conference comes at an opportune time, aligning with the new investment planning stage of central SOEs. He expressed hope that the initiative would strengthen co-operation between central SOEs and investment institutions, and GBA in terms of industry development and capital matching. Highlighting Guangdong's advantages in industrial ecosystem completeness, market scale, innovation capacity, and business environment, he encouraged enterprises to invest, deepen co-operation, and expand in the GBA.

The Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Miss Cathy Li, said that Hong Kong, as the most international city in the GBA, leverages the advantages under the "one country, two systems", its common-law system aligned with international standards, and its well-established financial and risk management systems, which serve as a stable and reliable international operations hub for SOEs, which can capitalise on Hong Kong's strengths as a platform for fundraising and financing, professional services, risk management and corporate treasury functions, while combining these with the GBA's comprehensive industrial chain and vast market potential to develop and strengthen their international businesses. At the same time, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government encourages SOEs to participate in the synergistic development of innovation and technology in the GBA, establish operations in the Hetao Hong Kong Park, and work together in nurturing new quality productive forces.

Director of the IPIM Mr Larry Leong said that Macao will continue to seize the opportunities arising from the "one country, two systems" framework and the China and Portuguese Speaking Countries platform to serve as a gateway for Central SOEs to go global and expand into Portuguese-speaking markets. He added that the IPIM will further enhance its one-stop services for investors, strengthen support for trade between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries, and deepen efforts to attract investment while supporting overseas expansion - helping enterprises leverage Macao's unique strengths and policy benefits to expand overseas.

The conference also included a project roadshow session, during which several Guangdong enterprises presented their projects on-site and engaged in interactions and exchanges with representatives from local investment institutions.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Ms Loretta Lee said that the department will continue to work closely with the Guangdong and Macao governments to actively introduce Hong Kong's latest developments and investment opportunities to more SOEs and investment institutions, assisting them in leveraging Hong Kong's professional services and international networks to expand into overseas markets, achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.

Invest Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute, and the Investment Association of Central State-owned Enterprises, jointly organised a business matching conference on industrial and capital collaboration between state-owned enterprises and investment institutions, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Beijing today (July 27). Photo shows the Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Miss Cathy Li, speaking at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Invest Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Macao Commerce and the Investment Promotion Institute, and Investment Association of Central State-owned Enterprises, jointly organised a business matching conference on industrial and capital collaboration between state-owned enterprises and investment institutions, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Beijing today (July 27). Photo shows (from left) Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province Mr Zhu Xiaojun; the Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Miss Cathy Li; and Director of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute Mr Larry Leong at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 6) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.

The Centre for Health Protection, Photo source: reference image

In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:

• Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;

• Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;

• Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;

• Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;

• Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and

• Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.

In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:

• Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;

• The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.

• Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.

The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.

Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:

• Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;

• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;

• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;

• Seek shade;

• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;

• Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.

If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

For more health information, the public may visit the CHP's heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

Hot weather in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post