Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event Held to Promote Mainland Agricultural Products in Global Markets

Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event held today

The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council jointly held the Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event today (August 14). The event aimed to promote the effective use of Hong Kong's international trade platform by Chinese Mainland premium agricultural products to expand into overseas markets. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Zhang Yong; the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun; and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the event. Around 250 representatives from Mainland provincial and regional governments, enterprises, and Hong Kong industry professionals also attended.

In his address, Mr Chan said that for premium agricultural and food products to successfully expand into overseas markets, they require an efficient international trade platform, professional marketing services, and seamless alignment with international standards, all of which are precisely Hong Kong's strengths. He added that Hong Kong serves not only as a "super connector" between the nation and the global market, but also as a "super value-adder" that creates value for enterprises. By utilising Hong Kong as a platform to "go global", enterprises can achieve a multiplier effect, sparing them from having to build their presence in overseas markets from afresh.

Mr Tse noted that the Mainland has long been Hong Kong's primary source of fresh food, establishing a deep foundation for co-operation between both sides. He hoped that the matchmaking event would help Mainland enterprises connect with overseas buyers and sales channels, facilitating the transition of more premium agricultural products and food from "supplying to Hong Kong" to "going global via Hong Kong." Now in its fourth year, the matchmaking event marks the EEB's debut as a co-organiser, further underscoring Hong Kong's positioning as a food hub. This year's event set records for both scale and outcomes, fully reflecting the immense potential of the global food market and reaffirming the wide recognition of Hong Kong's role as a "super connector".

The EEB signed Memoranda of Understanding on agricultural and food products co-operation with representatives from Hunan Province, Xizang Autonomous Region and Shandong Province, deepening ties between Hong Kong and the three places. The scope covers facilitating market entry for premium products, enhancing industry and business exchanges, and collectively exploring overseas markets. This marks the first time for the HKSAR Government to sign agreements of this nature with provincial-level governments.

In addition, the EEB premiered a promotional video at the event highlighting the advantages and development potential of Hong Kong's food industry. The promotional video has been uploaded to the EEB's website (www.eeb.gov.hk/food/en) and will also be broadcast at local and overseas economic and trade promotion events to further promote the "Food from Hong Kong" brand and the status of Hong Kong as a food hub.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 14) attended the Mainland premium agricultural products go-global business matching session. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 14) attended the Mainland premium agricultural products go-global business matching session. Photo shows Mr Chan (second right) and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (second left), touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 14) attended the Mainland premium agricultural products go-global business matching session. Photo shows Mr Chan (centre) touring an exhibition booth. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong (front row, right), and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shandong Province, Mr Yang Wujie (front row, left) signing a Memorandum of Understanding, witnessed by (back row, from left) the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Yong; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows (from left) the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Professor Frederick Ma; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Yong; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Irene Young; and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Sophia Chong; officiating at the premiere of the new publicity video on food hub of the Environment and Ecology Bureau. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (front row, right), and the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hunan Province, Mr Mao Zhaohui (front row, left), signing a Memorandum of Understanding, witnessed by (back row, from left) the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Yong; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; and Vice Chairperson of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Zhang Jian. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held on August 14. Photo shows the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong (front row, right), and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Ms Dezhen (front row, left), signing a Memorandum of Understanding, witnessed by (back row, from left) the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Yong; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Vice Chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhao Peng; and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Sophia Chong, delivering a speech at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, delivering a speech at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 14) attended the Mainland premium agricultural products go-global business matching session. Photo shows Mr Chan speaking at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held today (August 14). Photo shows the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun, delivering opening remarks at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chinese Mainland Premium Agricultural Products "Going Global" Exchange and Matchmaking Event was held on August 14. Photo shows the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (front row, centre); Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Yong (front row, fifth left); Vice Chairperson of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Zhang Jian (front row, fifth right); the Vice Chairman of the People's Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhao Peng (front row, fourth left); the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (front row, fourth right); the Head of the Commercial Office in Hong Kong, Mr Zhou Qiang (front row, second left); the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Irene Young (front row, third right); the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Professor Frederick Ma (front row, third left); the Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Peng Tingjun (front row, first left); the Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Sophia Chong (front row, second right); the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong (back row; fifth left), and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai (back row, third left), and guests 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 16) 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.

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 theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

Source: AI-found images