Speech by SCST at Opening Ceremony and Show of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture 2026"
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Opening Ceremony and Show of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture 2026" today (September 1):
Mr Kevin Yeung (Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am truly happy to be with you today to open the Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2026, and to launch its crown jewel - "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture 2026", so brilliantly curated by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association. To our distinguished guests joining us from far and near - a very warm and heartfelt welcome to Hong Kong.
Today's Festival is the creative engine of our city's cultural ambition. Spearheaded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, and brought to life by six major industry organisations, Hong Kong Fashion Fest underscores our unwavering commitment to forging Hong Kong as Asia's premier fashion design capital. From dynamic runway programmes and international creative exchanges to pop-up retail experiences and private trunk shows, we are not only showcasing and nurturing design talent, we are unlocking new market frontiers and cementing Hong Kong's status as a world-class cultural and creative hub.
This year's theme, "Rhythm of the Heart", positions Hong Kong as the very pulse of Asia's fashion industry. The word "Rhythm" captures our city's unique energy - a place where creative brilliance and innovation generate unstoppable momentum. It is in here that designers and industry practitioners pour their soul into every stitch. And Hong Kong channels this creative energy across every link of the fashion value chain - from the first spark of design concept, through material sourcing and precision tailoring, to fashion photography and the final runway reveal. This is how we reinforce our standing as one of Asia's leading hubs for fashion design and retail.
We are delighted to see VIRTUOSE return as the opening showpiece of this year's Fashion Fest. Last year, we gathered in Central against the breathtaking backdrop of Victoria Harbour. This year, the runway has journeyed across water to the vibrant heart of West Kowloon Cultural District - a place where history, culture and art naturally converge. Within these very walls, and among treasures that tell stories of dynasties past, tonight's couture will tell stories skillfully crafted by hand. There could be no stage more fitting for this evening's celebration than Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Fashion is a living, breathing medium of culture, heritage, and artistic storytelling. And couture, at its essence, represents the ultimate expression of bespoke artistry and visionary craftsmanship. VIRTUOSE 2026 brings together four extraordinary designers from Spain, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Deeply rooted in their respective cultural traditions, these inspiring couturiers will weave a cross-cultural dialogue between East and West, transforming ideas and fabrics into intricate, breathtaking masterpieces, right here on this runway.
I would like to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, our remarkably talented designers, and all the industry organisations, participants and supporters who have contributed to this spectacular two-week programme of events. Your passion and dedication have made Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2026 possible.
Now, please join me in celebrating the dynamic pulse of the "Rhythm of the Heart" and savour the brilliance of VIRTUOSE 2026. Thank you very much.
Source: AI-found images
China Chengxin Green Finance expands Hong Kong business for go-global enterprises with enhanced ESG fintech services
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced that China Chengxin Group, one of the Chinese Mainland's longest-established and largest credit rating agencies, is expanding its business in Hong Kong. Under this expansion, its green finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) arm, China Chengxin Green Finance (CCXGF), today (September 1) entered into a strategic merger with leading Asian sustainability tech platform MioTech to form "CCX-MioTech". The new entity will offer a dedicated ESG and sustainable development services platform for Mainland enterprises looking to expand abroad, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a launchpad for Mainland and international enterprises expanding overseas.
A launch ceremony for the CCX-MioTech merger, together with the debut of the entity's new AI system products, was held in Hong Kong today. Officiating guests at the launch ceremony included the Founder and Chairman of China Chengxin Group, Mr Mao Zhenhua; the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, Mr Daniel Cheung; Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee; the Associate Director of International Affairs and Sustainable Finance of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Elaine Ng; the Head of Carbon and ESG Products of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mr Ken Chiu; the Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association, Mr Philip Kam; the Senior Director, Asia Pacific of the International Capital Market Association, Mr Ricco Zhang; the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association Mr Tsun Chen; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Investor Relations Association, Dr Eva Chan.
Ms Lee, said, "Hong Kong is well positioned to meet the Mainland's huge demand for green transformation. Our common law system, robust ESG framework and leading professional services make the city an ideal platform for Mainland enterprises to expand overseas. We are delighted to see CCXGF using Hong Kong as its base and joining forces with MioTech to bring AI-powered Chinese ESG fintech services to the world, demonstrating Hong Kong's unique strengths as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder'."
The Co-President of CCX-MioTech and Chief Executive Officer of China Chengxin Green Finance International, Dr Yang Junhao, said, "As Asia's sustainable finance centre, Hong Kong is ideally placed to capture the vast opportunities of both the Chinese Mainland and international markets. Its increasingly robust ESG governance framework also gives us an important edge as we position our sustainable finance business strategically. Since beginning operations here in 2022, we became a recognised external reviewer under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in 2023. Through today's strategic merger with MioTech, we will use Hong Kong as our go-global hub to take our standardised, technology-driven professional capabilities further into Southeast Asia and markets worldwide."
CCXGF is one of the earliest professional institutions on the Chinese Mainland to provide third-party green finance services, with a long-standing focus on green finance assessment and certification, ESG ratings and advisory, data services, and carbon neutrality research. MioTech, for its part, has consistently driven the deep integration of artificial intelligence, data and software into sustainability applications.
InvestHK provided one-stop support for China Chengxin Green Finance International's expansion in Hong Kong, including market intelligence, business matching, and connections with local and overseas industry stakeholders, helping to raise the company's industry profile and open up cross-regional market opportunities.
For more information about CCXGF, please visit www.ccxgfi.com/en/.
China Chengxin Green Finance expands Hong Kong business for go-global enterprises with enhanced ESG fintech services Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
China Chengxin Green Finance expands Hong Kong business for go-global enterprises with enhanced ESG fintech services Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
