FS: Highlighting Hong Kong’s Role as East‑West Meeting Point at HKTDC Summer Expos

Speech by FS at Joint Opening Ceremony of HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Joint Opening Ceremony of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13):

Jonathan (Member of the HKTDC, Dr Jonathan Choi), Sophia (the Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Sophia Chong), (the Vice Chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhao Peng), (Vice Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferenceand Chairman of Hunan Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr Zhang Jian), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a pleasure to join you all for the joint opening of the HKTDC's five flagship summer fairs.

With so much wonderful food, tea and wellness inspiration gathered under one roof, perhaps I should begin with a small word of warning: it is rather difficult to leave without a few extra shopping bags in hand.

At the heart of this year's showcase is a theme made for our time: "Live Well, Stay Well." As the world pays more attention to mindful, balanced and healthy living, these five fairs bring together a rich mix of food, beverage, lifestyle and wellness experiences.

Today, the five exhibitions bring together more than 1 850 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions. I am especially pleased that, for the first time, all 11 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states are represented, with Brunei and Timor-Leste making their debut.

And the world's finest products will sit alongside our own. We are proud to present Hong Kong's fishery and agricultural produce under a new unified brand, "Hong Kong Harvest". Meanwhile, specialty goods from 16 provinces and regions across the Chinese Mainland will be on show at the Food Expo.

All these speak to the enduring appeal of quality products and good living - and to Hong Kong’s unique ability to bring together international brands and regional enterprises, as well as discerning consumers in one dynamic marketplace.

I appreciate the way B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business to consumer) events sit side by side here. Whether you are an industry expert or simply a curious consumer, there is something to suit every palate and every lifestyle. These fairs connect the world of great food and wellness with the people of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and beyond - bringing the finest products from every continent right to our doorstep.

Hong Kong has long been a meeting point between East and West. This is a place where ideas converge, opportunities emerge and partnerships take root. That spirit is very much on display this year, with more than 230 mega events on the calendar, many of them MICE events. Some 3.6 million visitors are expected to come from around the world, an increase of more than 20 per cent compared with the previous year. These events will bring some $12 billion in spending to the city. Add to that our international outlook, efficient supply chains, and professional strengths in certification, quality assurance and brand building - and we are no doubt the best platform for brands looking to connect with markets across the region.

To our exhibitors and buyers: your presence here speaks volumes about the power of connection. The relationships you build over the coming days will go well beyond transactions. They will open new opportunities, spark innovation, and help more people, in more places, to live well and stay well.

And to our friends from overseas, I hope you will also find time to enjoy Hong Kong. This is not just a city for deal-making - it is a city of wonderful cuisine, rich culture, beautiful scenery and warm, energetic people. You never know: your next big idea, or your next business partner, may come not from the exhibition hall, but from a walk through our buzzing streets, or a conversation over a good meal.

Ladies and gentlemen, as you taste and explore your way through these fairs, I hope you will take away not only great products and promising leads, but also a fresh appetite – for good living as much as for good business.

I wish the fairs every success. Thank you very much - and to those heading into the halls, a final word of advice: plan your route, and save some appetite for the far end of the hall.

Thank you very much.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows (from front row, fourth left) the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Ms Sophia Chong; Mr Chan; Member of the HKTDC Dr Jonathan Choi, and other guests officiating at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (fourth left) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (second left) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (first right) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (third left) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (centre) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, attended the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Photo shows Mr Chan (second left) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaks at the Joint Opening Ceremony of the HKTDC Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo today (August 13). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mainland flagship game developer S-GAME establishes Hong Kong base to drive global launch of AAA title Phantom Blade Zero

Invest Hong Kong today (August 13) announced that S-GAME, a leading Chinese Mainland game and content developer, has established a new Hong Kong office dedicated to game publishing and distribution, promotion, trading, and cross-media intellectual property (IP) business. Using Hong Kong as its base, the company will drive the overseas expansion of its soon-to-be-launched AAA martial-arts action game Phantom Blade Zero.

Hailed as the most anticipated Chinese AAA game of 2026, Phantom Blade Zero has attracted keen attention from players worldwide. The martial-arts action title blends Eastern wuxia elements with dark fantasy aesthetics to form its distinctive "Kungfupunk" style. Phantom Blade Zero's art centre is also based in Hong Kong, with the art team bringing together creative talent from across Greater China. Several veteran Hong Kong film martial-arts choreographers took part in the game's action production, and as a result, the high-speed combat and action design within the game are rich with the flavour of Hong Kong's martial-arts cinema. The game opened for global pre-order starting yesterday (August 12). In its latest trailer, S-GAME announced that renowned Hong Kong kung fu film star and director Donnie Yen has served as the Creative Consultant of Phantom Blade Zero since 2023, and personally performed both the motion captures and facial captures for a major in-game character, "Mó Yuan". The game is scheduled to launch worldwide simultaneously on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation on October 29 this year.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Mr Arnold Lau said, "China is not only a vast IP consumer market, but has also become a globally recognised base for creative exports. As a hub connecting the world, Hong Kong, with its mature professional services, bilingual talent, media networks and a robust intellectual property protection regime, will provide crucial support for S-GAME's overseas distribution and IP internationalisation. Meanwhile, Phantom Blade Zero has drawn on Hong Kong's rich pool of international film talent and resources, fusing the martial-arts aesthetics of classic Hong Kong cinema into a next-generation video game, achieving cross-border and cross-media cultural inheritance. We look forward to enterprises leveraging Hong Kong as a base for global promotion so that outstanding works can extend their influence far and wide."

The Marketing Director of S-GAME, Mr Julius Li, said, "Hong Kong is the natural choice for S-GAME's journey into international markets. Hong Kong is not only a top-tier global financial and business centre, but also a storied hub for international film and publishing - an inspiration for Phantom Blade Zero and a strategic vantage point for taking 'Kungfupunk' game culture global. The talent, legal and business environment, media influence and urban culture here all meet our global distribution needs and align closely with the creative roots of Phantom Blade Zero. The newly established Hong Kong office will support us in advancing international business liaisons, international advertising, IP licensing, as well as the possible future production and distribution of film and television spin-offs, bringing this work rooted in the East onto the world stage."

S-GAME was founded by Mr Liang Qiwei (Soulframe) in 2011, with original IPs including the Rainblood series and the Phantom Blade series of mobile games. Phantom Blade Zero, the title being launched, drew an enthusiastic response at a large-scale offline trial event held in Beijing in July 2025, capturing the attention of players at home and abroad, with cumulative views surpassing 100 million and livestream viewership exceeding 20 million.

For more information about Phantom Blade Zero, please visit pbz.s-game.cn.

Mainland flagship game developer S-GAME establishes Hong Kong base to drive global launch of AAA title Phantom Blade Zero Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases