Singapore ETO organises seminar to promote AI and fintech landscape in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a high-level seminar titled "Bridging Innovation & Technology: Navigating the AI & FinTech Landscape in Hong Kong" on September 24, 2026, in Singapore. Organised in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Singapore's Kowloon Club, the event drew approximately 100 senior business leaders and executives from both cities. Attendees gathered to explore collaborative opportunities in AI and fintech, underscoring a deepening partnership between Asia's two premier financial and innovation hubs.
The seminar served as the anchor event for a visiting 27-strong FHKI delegation led by the Chairman of the FHKI, Mr Anthony Lam, during their visit to Singapore on September 23 and 24. It was also an event under the Economic and Trade Express platform, a collaborative initiative of ETOs, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Delivering the opening remarks, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, highlighted that the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, which were recently unveiled, marked a significant strategic milestone. For the first time, Hong Kong has formulated a medium-term development blueprint that places AI and fintech at the centre of its economic agenda, closely aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. She emphasised that the Northern Metropolis stands as a central pillar of this strategic blueprint.
In addition, Ms Hung said that Hong Kong is advancing an ambitious AI+ Initiative through two complementary tracks - "industries for AI" and "AI for industries". The dual goal is to develop AI as a strategic and globally competitive industry in its own right and to accelerate its application across finance, professional services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and beyond. On fintech, Hong Kong's strategy focuses on four pillars, including AI, data and payment infrastructure, financial tokenisation and resilience enhancement.
The seminar also featured presentations from Mr Lam, alongside representatives from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, followed by a dynamic fireside chat titled "Singapore-Hong Kong Nexus: Building a Shared Working Environment & Business Portability". The event concluded with a vibrant networking session, where participants actively engaged and forged new pathways for bilateral collaboration.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a high-level seminar titled "Bridging Innovation & Technology: Navigating the AI & FinTech Landscape in Hong Kong" on September 24, 2026, in Singapore. Organised in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Singapore's Kowloon Club, the event drew approximately 100 senior business leaders and executives from both cities. Attendees gathered to explore collaborative opportunities in AI and fintech, underscoring a deepening partnership between Asia's two premier financial and innovation hubs. Photo shows the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, delivering opening remarks in the seminar. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore hosted a high-level seminar titled "Bridging Innovation & Technology: Navigating the AI & FinTech Landscape in Hong Kong" on September 24, 2026, in Singapore. Organised in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Singapore's Kowloon Club, the event drew approximately 100 senior business leaders and executives from both cities. Attendees gathered to explore collaborative opportunities in AI and fintech, underscoring a deepening partnership between Asia's two premier financial and innovation hubs. Photo shows the Chairman of the FHKI, Mr Anthony Lam, delivering opening remarks in the seminar. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore hosted a high-level seminar titled "Bridging Innovation & Technology: Navigating the AI & FinTech Landscape in Hong Kong" on September 24, 2026, in Singapore. Organised in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Singapore's Kowloon Club, the event drew approximately 100 senior business leaders and executives from both cities. Attendees gathered to explore collaborative opportunities in AI and fintech, underscoring a deepening partnership between Asia's two premier financial and innovation hubs. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH holds meeting with new Head of Secretariat of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to deepen collaboration and exchanges on tobacco control
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, yesterday (September 25) met with the new Head of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Mr Andrew Black, for an in-depth exchange on tobacco control work.
Mr Black assumed office as the Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC on August 1 this year. Dr Lam welcomed Mr Black and expressed appreciation for his taking time out of a busy schedule to visit the Department of Health (DH) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to exchange views on the latest progress and strategies in tobacco control work.
Dr Lam said, "We are very honoured to receive Mr Black and representatives of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). The HKSAR Government has been advancing tobacco control through a science-based, public-oriented, multi-pronged and progressive approach. The HKSAR Government's strategy in tackling alternative smoking products (ASPs), including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, is to nip the problem in the bud, by preventing ASPs from taking root in Hong Kong, and tackling at source the use of ASPs for drug inhalation. To this end, the HKSAR Government banned the import, manufacture, promotion and sale of ASPs, as well as the possession of ASPs for commercial purposes, more than four years ago. To further strengthen the control of ASPs, the Government has, since April 30 this year, prohibited the possession of ASPs in public places to prevent their local circulation in any form and to further prevent the younger generation from becoming addicted to smoking."
"Hong Kong's tobacco control journey is the culmination of decades of concerted efforts to build a comprehensive tobacco control strategy through multi-pronged measures. Adopting a whole-of-society approach, the Government has successfully lowered our smoking prevalence to 8.5 per cent in 2025, which is among the lowest in the world. The HKSAR Government will continue to implement the '10 measures for tobacco control'. The full implementation of plain packaging requirement and the duty stamp system for conventional smoking products will be completed by the end of next year. The relevant subsidiary legislation was gazetted on September 11. Following the implementation of these two measures, the Government will proceed with implementation of a ban on flavoured smoking products," Dr Lam added.
Mr Black noted that Hong Kong's tobacco control policies have long been closely aligned with the FCTC, and gave high recognition to Hong Kong's efforts and achievements in tobacco control. He specifically pointed out that Hong Kong's experience is highly valuable as a reference for other jurisdictions. He expressed strong support for Hong Kong's forthcoming measures, including plain packaging requirement for conventional smoking products, the duty stamp system and a ban on flavoured smoking products.
In addition, Mr Black commended the contribution made by the DH as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence. The DH has, since 2012, regularly provided training for tobacco control personnel in the Western Pacific Region. It also regularly organises training on smoking cessation treatment and Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation services for the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, serving as a regional hub in tobacco control and smoking cessation.
The Executive Director of SEATCA, Dr Ulysses Dorotheo; Programme Manager of SEATCA, Ms Irene Reyes; Professor and Director of the Primary Health Care Academy of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Sophia Chan; the Controller of Regulatory Affairs of the DH, Dr Fung Ying; and the Head of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the DH, Dr Manny Lam, also attended the meeting.
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, yesterday (September 25) met with the new Head of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Mr Andrew Black, for an in-depth exchange on tobacco control work. Photo shows Dr Lam (front row, centre); Mr Black (front row, second left); the Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, Dr Ulysses Dorotheo (front row, second right); Professor and Director of HKU Primary Health Care Academy, Professor Sophia Chan (front row, first left); Controller, Regulatory Affairs of the Department of Health, Dr Fung Ying (front row, first right); Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the DH, Dr Manny Lam (second row, second left); and other participants of the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (second left), yesterday (September 25) met with the new Head of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Mr Andrew Black (second right), for an in-depth exchange on tobacco control work. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
