News Summer 2019
Issued by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels
Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, with the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Minister for Justice of France, Ms Nicole Belloubet, in Mr James Lau, and Ireland’s Minister of State at the Paris (page 9). Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Michael D’Arcy, in Dublin (page 6).
Greater Bay Area
Hong Kong’s role in creating an economic and innovation powerhouse (page 2). Greater Bay Area Development Greater Bay Area – Hong Kong’s role in creating an economic and innovation powerhouse
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area The Greater Bay Area is a globally significant economic (Greater Bay Area) development is a major national cluster with each of the cities having their own strengths, scheme of Mainland China. Hong Kong stands to play a in manufacturing, technology, tourism, finance, and key role in the creation of this economic and innovation other areas. The Greater Bay Area development plan is powerhouse. to combine their complementary advantages to develop an international first-class bay area for living, working One of the most open and economically vibrant regions and travelling, as well as a globally influential innovation in Mainland China, the Greater Bay Area consists of and technology hub. nine prosperous cities in Guangdong Province and the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong New driver of economic growth for and Macao, encompassing an area of 56,000 square Hong Kong kilometers. The Greater Bay Area is an enormous market with a population of about 71 million, similar to that of Hong Kong’s strengths as a highly international city the United Kingdom, and with a Gross Domestic Product complement the advantages of the nine Mainland (GDP) of US$1.6 trillion in 2018, roughly double that of cities within the Greater Bay Area, such as the size of Switzerland. Its GDP is forecast to reach US$4.6 trillion their market, an all-rounded industry system, and their by 2030. relative strength in technology. The Greater Bay Area
2 Hong Kong News Summer 2019 Summer 2019 Contents
Greater Bay Area Development Hong Kong’s role in the creation of an economic and innovation powerhouse 2
West Kowloon Cultural District The first landmark venue, the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera, opens its doors 4
International co-operation The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury forged financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Ireland 6 The Secretary for Food and Health met with healthcare professionals in the Netherlands 8 The Secretary for Justice visited France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to promote Hong Kong as dispute resolution services centre 9 Special Representative Shirley Lam met with Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, Kris Peeters 12 Hong Kong and Italy sign Working Holiday Scheme agreement 12 development can help generate new areas Economy and Finance of growth for Hong Kong and foster the Hong Kong in mutual recognition of funds agreements with Luxembourg and the diversified development of its economy Netherlands 13 and industries. Business events Hong Kong’s pivotal role as a leader in Seminars in Athens, Limassol, Milan, Pulsano, Vincenza, Rotterdam: Why Hong Kong is international services was endorsed in an the best place to tap Belt and Road, Greater Bay Area opportunities 14 outline development plan for the Greater Hong Kong’s “Soaring Creativity” on display at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 16 Bay Area development, unveiled by the Central Government on 18 February 2019. Creative Industries Young Hong Kong designers in Paris fashion presentation 17 This blueprint identifies five “strategic orientations”, including closer integration Careers between Mainland China, Hong Kong and Seeking overseas talents: HKETO, Brussels reached out to students in Italy, the Macao, while upholding the governing Netherlands and Belgium 17 principle of “one country, two systems” for the two Special Administrative Regions. Chinese New Year HKETO, Brussels hosts events in 12 European cities to celebrate the Year of the Pig 18 It confirms that Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen and Guangzhou would be Culture the four key cities of the Greater Bay Hong Kong comics industry at Angoulême International Comics Festival 21 Area and the core engines for regional “Legends of Lion Dance” exhibition showcased Hong Kong’s cultural heritage in development. Belgium 22 Hong Kong artist Shirley Tse at the 58th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di The outline development plan supports Venezia, until 24 November 2019 23 Hong Kong’s efforts to consolidate its Hong Kong artists and musicians at Classical:Next in Rotterdam 25 position as an international finance, HKETO, Brussels supported Hong Kong films at nine international film festivals in transport, maritime, trade, aviation and Europe in 2018/19 - CinemAsia Film Festival in Amsterdam 25 arbitration hub, in tandem with the Hong Kong film wins top award at the 21st Far East Film Festival in Udine 26 development of high-end and high-value- The Mills - Former textile factory gets a new lease of life as an arts complex 27 added financial, commercial, trading, Brussels International Fantasy, Fantastic, Thriller and Science Fiction Film Festival 27 logistics and professional services. It backs Hong Kong’s steps to boost its innovation News in Brief and technology capabilities, with local Do you own a property in Hong Kong ? The Land Registry Property Alert service is institutes promised the same level of R&D for you. 28 funding as their Mainland counterparts. Asia’s biggest cyber games stadium opens in Hong Kong 28
More information at https://www.bayarea.gov.hk
Hong Kong News Summer 2019 3 The exterior of the Xiqu centre. West Kowloon Cultural District The first landmark venue, the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera, opens its doors
The Xiqu Centre, the first landmark venue at the West in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui, the eight-storey emerging new cultural district, was officially opened building has a total area of 28,164 square metres and on 20 January 2019. The centre is dedicated to all things houses a Grand Theatre, accommodating 1,073 seats, connected with the rich traditional Chinese art form of a Tea House Theatre, with a capacity of up to 200 xiqu, which includes Cantonese opera and other genres. seats, eight professional studios and a seminar hall, all Located at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road designed for xiqu-related functions and activities.
4 Hong Kong News Summer 2019 Tea House Rising Stars Troupe, showcases a selection of Tea House Theatre Experience short excerpts demonstrating a range of vocal and music (3 April to 25 August 2019) styles. It also includes narration by an expert moderator to help newcomers gain insight into the history of the The Xiqu Centre’s Tea House Theatre Programme, Tea art form. House Theatre Experience, is specially designed to introduce new audiences to Chinese traditional theatre. https://www.westkowloon.hk/en/whats-on/current-forthcoming/tea- The 90-minute performance, presented by the centre’s house-theatre-experience/
To recreate the atmosphere of Hong Kong’s early 20th century tea houses, audiences are also served traditional tea and dim sum during the show.
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is a type of Chinese traditional theatre mainly found in the Cantonese-speaking regions - Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong and Macao. In each opera production, the story is told through the “four basic skills” of singing, acting, delivery of spoken lines and martial arts, enhanced by stage makeup, costumes, props and the percussive beats on gongs and drums. The presentation format is a fine mixture of literature, drama, ballad singing, dance and martial arts. The singing style, role types, makeup, stylised movements, libretti and singing scores are all rich in artistic value. Cantonese opera was inscribed onto the first national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006, and onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Aside from being a performing art for public entertainment, Cantonese opera can serve as religious drama presented as part of the ritual of thanksgiving to the deities, and at Taoist jiao festivals.
Hong Kong News Summer 2019 5 International co-operation The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury forged financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Ireland
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau (centre), with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr Simon Coveney (right), and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Michael D’Arcy (left), while attending the welcoming reception for international delegates and speakers of the European Financial Forum.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Financial Services and the over EUR 11 billion, and a Green Bond Grant Scheme to Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited Dublin from 12 to 14 support the use of green finance certification. In 2018, February 2019 to foster closer financial co-operation green bonds issued in Hong Kong totalled about US$11 between Hong Kong and Ireland. billion.
He met with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform of Ireland, Mr Michael D’Arcy, to discuss the latest developments of green finance and financial technologies in both places. Both sides looked forward to further collaboration between Hong Kong and Ireland in financial services.
Delivering a closing keynote speech at the 4th European Financial Forum on 13 February, Mr Lau explained how Hong Kong has evolved from a centre for investment flows and financial services to facilitate Mainland China’s economic reform and opening up to a broader role that encompasses leadership in innovation and technology, sustainable trade and finance. He also highlighted the Hong Kong’s regional connectivity and development in the context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Mr James Lau (centre) with Ireland’s Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure Bay Area. and Reform, Mr Paschal Donohoe (left)
As regards sustainable finance, the Hong Kong Special Mr Lau also held an onstage conversation with the Administrative Region Government has rolled out a Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform Government green bond programme with a ceiling of of Ireland, Mr Paschal Donohoe, during the closing
6 Hong Kong News Summer 2019 Mr James Lau (front row, centre) accompanied by the Deputy Representative of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, Mr Sam Hui (front row, left), met with representatives from key Fintech companies in Dublin. session, which included sharing efforts to further United States as well as Fintech advances in the context financial development in both places. of global economic development and financial stability.
Earlier, Mr Lau attended a Fintech (financial technology) roundtable with representatives from the key Fintech companies in Dublin. He said he was pleased to note that these companies are seeking to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to expand their businesses to Hong Kong, Mainland China and Asia.
Mr Lau (second left), held a discussion with aviation financing experts of the Standard Chartered Bank to learn more about their experience in boosting aviation market development in Ireland and beyond.
While in Dublin, Mr Lau also visited the Irish Stock Exchange and held a discussion with aviation financing experts of the Standard Chartered Bank to learn more about their experience in boosting aviation market development in Ireland and beyond. He visited Goshawk, Mr James Lau (right) with the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Mr an international aircraft leasing company headquartered Philip Lane. in Dublin, and another leading aircraft leasing company, Avolon. He shared with the management teams of these He later met with the Governor of the Central Bank of co