Summer 2015 Issued by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels Secretary for the Environment Tests an Electric Car at B
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NEWS Summer 2015 Issued by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam met the Secretary for Commerce and Economic European Commission’s Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Development, Mr Gregory So, visited Investment and Competitiveness, Mr Jyrki Katainen, during Burgundy to renew Hong Kong’s ties with her visit to Belgium, Ireland and Italy. (Pages 2-5) an important trading partner. (Page 6) The Spring Glory troupe will tour the Netherlands, Belgium Secretary for the Environment tests an and Italy in October with “Backstage”, a show that will electric car at Blue Solutions during provide an entertaining introduction to Cantonese opera. his visit to France and Italy. (Back cover) (Pages 8-9) Chief Secretary for Administration visits Belgium, Ireland and Italy The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, She shared with Commissioner for Environment, Maritime visited Brussels, Dublin, Rome and Venice on 3-9 May to Affairs and Fisheries of the EC, Mr Karmenu Vella, the renew ties and update government officials, members initiatives Hong Kong has put in place to improve air of parliament, business communities and academics quality and to strengthen its role as an international about the latest political and economic developments maritime centre by providing further high-value added in Hong Kong. These included constitutional reform, the services for the shipping sector. opportunities arising from China’s Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road programmes and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiative (see page15). Mrs Lam visited the Venice Biennale where she opened the Hong Kong Pavilion. On 3 May she also took the opportunity of her transit through Amsterdam Schiphol and her visit to Brussels to meet representatives of the Hong Kong community living in the Netherlands and Belgium. Brussels In Brussels on Monday 4 May, Mrs Lam met with Mrs Lam briefed the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Work, Affairs and Fisheries, Mr Karmenu Vella, about Hong Kong’s martime and Economic Affairs and Consumer Affairs, Mr Kris Peeters environmental initiatives. and addressed leading businessmen and investors at a luncheon co-organised by HKETO, Brussels and the Mrs Lam met with members of the European Parliament Belgium Hong Kong Society. at a reception co-organised by the HKETO, Brussels and the European Parliament-Hong Kong Friendship Group. Mingling with guests before the business luncheon in Brussels, Mrs Lam is The Chief Secretary with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Kris Peeters. pictured with, from left to right, Executive Director of the Euroclear Group Management Committee and Chief Business Development Officer, Mr Frederic At the European Commission (EC), she explored Hannequart; Vice-Chairman of the Belgium Hong Kong Society, Mr Georges opportunities for furthering the economic, trade and Legros; and Chairman of the Belgium Hong Kong Society, Mr Piet Steel. investment ties between Hong Kong and the EU at a meeting with the EC’s Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Mrs Lam seized the opportunity of her transit through Investment and Competitiveness, Mr Jyrki Katainen. Amsterdam Schiphol and her visit to Brussels to meet They discussed how Hong Kong could contribute to the representatives of the Hong Kong communities living in success of the EU Investment Plan. the Netherlands and Belgium. 2 HONG KONG NEWS Summer 2015 Summer 2015 VISITS to EUROPE Contents Chief Secretary for Administration’s visit to Belgium, Ireland and Italy 2 Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development visits Burgundy 6 Hong Kong congratulates Burgundy on UNESCO listing of its Climats 7 Secretary for Development attends Symposium of the Hong Kong-Barcelona Exchange Platform 7 Secretary for the Environment visits France and Italy 8 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Government to focus on economic issues after LegCo rejects political reform package 9 TAXATION Hong Kong-Italy avoidance of double taxation agreement in force 10 Hong Kong calls for its immediate removal from European Commission’s tax blacklist 10 At the business luncheon in Brussels, Mrs Lam (second left) is pictured with, CHINESE NEW YEAR from left to right, Acting CEO, Wallonia Export Investment Agency (AWEX), Ms HKETO, Brussels celebrates Chinese New Year in ten European cities 11 Pascale Delcomminette; Director-Head of Department, Brussels Invest and Export HONG KONG WELCOMES Ü (BIE), Ms Bénédicte Wilders; and CEO, Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT), Hong Kong welcomes talents, professionals and entrepreneurs 12 HONG KONG-EU ACADEMIC CO-OPERATION Ms Claire Tillekaerts. Hong Kong-EU schools e-learning project ends with great success 13 Hong Kong students visit Belgium under EU Academic Programme 13 Secretary for Education meets with European Research Council in Brussels 14 BUSINESS AND FINANCE Mutual recognition of funds between the Mainland and Hong Kong “will make Hong Kong major fund domicile” 14 Hong Kong well-placed to seize “One Belt, One Road” opportunities 15 Luxembourg private investment bank starts asset management business in Hong Kong 15 WEST KOWLOON CULTURAL DISTRICT Former head of HKETO, Brussels is the new chief of Hong Kong’s cultural district 16 BUSINESS EVENTS Hong Kong Pavilion at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015 16 Hong Kong business opportunities highlighted in Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands 17 Meeting with members of the Hong Kong community in Amsterdam Schiphol Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 18th Anniversary Business Seminar and Brussels, Mrs Lam encouraged the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong and Dinner in Rotterdam 18 permanent residents who have emigrated overseas to return to Hong Kong and FOOD AND WINE grasp the opportunities there. French entrepreneurs launch new coffee brand in Hong Kong 18 Visitors to Vinexpo 2015 in Bordeaux explore pairing fine wines with Chinese haute cuisine 19 COMICS AND ANIMATION Dublin Kongkee creates comic book for Blur’s new album 19 Hong Kong at 42nd Angoulême International Comics Festival 20 Comix Home Base forges strong links with Belgian Comic Strip Centre 20 FILMS Scary movies and classic martial arts films delight fans at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 21 Hong Kong martial arts films brought to Europe for a new generation of film-goers to discover 22 Hong Kong film talent shines at 17th Udine Far East Film Festival 23 12th Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic, Spain 23 ART AND MUSIC Young cellist Calvin Wong plays at Rome Chamber Music Festival 24 Young Hong Kong musicians perform at Burgundy Regional Council in Dijon 24 Hong Kong Focus at LOOP Barcelona International Video Arts Festival 25 Hong Kong and Dutch inspire each other at “Art Hong Kong Amsterdam” 25 Hong Kong Philharmonic enthuses audience in Eindhoven 26 Hong Kong artist at ARCO Madrid, Spain’s international contemporary arts fair 26 NEWS IN BRIEF Economic growth forecast revised upwards 26 Hong Kong economy ranked world’s freest, second most competitive 27 Mrs Lam called on the Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Chief Secretary encourages Netherlands-Hong Kong Society to continue playing an Mr Richard Bruton active role in promoting ties 27 First Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Hong Kong 27 Arriving in Dublin on 5 May, Mrs Lam called on the Site allocated for expansion of French International School 27 COMING to EUROPE IN OctobeR Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard An entertaining introduction to Cantonese opera - Spring Glory Troupe on Bruton, and provided an update on the government’s tour in Europe 28 priorities in developing Hong Kong’s economy. ---> HONG KONG NEWS Summer 2015 3 She then met with the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan, and told him about the growing opportunities in Renminbi-related businesses and Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre. The Chief Secretary met with the Provost and President of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, to explore possible areas for collaboration. Dublin Chamber of Commerce, where she met Minister Mrs Lam briefed the Irish Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan, of State, Department of Finance, Mr Simon Harris and on Hong Kong’s role as an offshore Renminbi centre. Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Niall Burgess. Mrs Lam mentioned the huge success of the Working Holiday Scheme with Ireland, which was the first of 10 such schemes established. Following a meeting with Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ms Heather Humphreys, the two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cultural Co-operation on behalf of their respective governments. Mrs Lam met Minister of State, Department of Finance, Ireland, Mr Simon Harris, at an Irish business leaders’ dinner in Dublin Rome Mrs Lam (left) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co- operation with the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ms Heather Humphreys (right). Mrs Lam visited the Centre for Digital Content Platform Research (ADAPT), an ICT facility based at Dublin City University. She then met with the Provost and President of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, to learn about the university’s strengths and explore possible areas for collaboration, before delivering a lunchtime The Chief Secretary and Italy’s Deputy Minister for Economic Development, talk to around 100 of the College’s academic staff and Mr Carlo Calenda,