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2018 Hong Kong is a fascinating fusion of the ancient and consistently acclaimed as the world’s freest economy. The modern, East and West, open to what the world has to oer city’s local transport and telecommunications infrastructure – food and fashion, arts and culture, science and are among the world’s best. technology. Hong Kong is a diverse place featuring soaring Anchored on the bedrock of the rule of law, Hong Kong is a skyscrapers, eclectic backstreets, magnicent country fair and stable society that cherishes freedom of parks, interesting islands and even a world heritage expression. English is the language of business and the law. geopark. Creativity, innovation, arts and culture thrive in this With a rich calendar of excellent cultural, dynamic city, whose can-do spirit and quest for sporting and leisure events, enchanting local excellence are evident everywhere. Businesses, talent, festivals and an international food scene, food and festivals from around the world enhance people are spoilt for choice. the cosmopolitan air. This little book oers a glimpse of Well-connected to the rest of the world, just some of the great things the city is a maritime, aviation, you will nd in Hong logistics, cultural, tourism Kong – Asia’s world and business hub, city. Contents COSMOPOLITAN 4 - 13 East Meets West | Culture & Arts | Sports | Education & Research DYNAMIC 14 - 23 Economy, Trade Fairs & Conventions | Sporting Achievements Films, Animation & Creative Industries | Innovation SECURE 24 - 29 Governance & Law | Health & Welfare DIVERSE 30 - 38 Multicultural Society | Urban Architecture & Heritage Cityscape & Nature CONNECTED 39 - 46 Air, Sea & Land Traffic | Infrastructure & Transport Gateway to China | Telecommunications FACTS & FIGURES 47 Made in Hong Kong. Then and Now. MAPS 48 - 51 From robots to robotics, Hong Kong delivers the professional services to bring products to market. CONTACT US 52 - 53 Watch Our Video More OURHONGKONG stories on YouTube at www.brandhk.gov.hk Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan social scene Hong Kong has many clubs, chambers of commerce, business and other associations, special interest groups and networking clubs, making it easy for expatriates to build business and social networks. International media hub Hong Kong strongly upholds the freedom of the press. Nearly 90 international media organisations have oces in Hong Kong, which serves as the regional base for The New York Times International Edition, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN International and Agence France-Presse. Major international media with signicant operations in Hong Kong include Bloomberg, CNBC, Dow Jones and Thomson Reuters. Hong Kong is a regional broadcasting hub From festivals and food to architecture and entertainment, with 14 licensees up-linking over 180 satellite television channels Hong Kong is a fascinating blend of East and West. Some 7.39 for the regional market. Hong Kong does not censor local or million people have made a home in this bright and beautiful foreign media, including internet and satellite TV content beamed place where tradition, modernity and the futuristic blend in to Hong Kong. surprising ways. Trendy town Global village There are plenty of places to chill out in About 8 per cent of the Hong Kong resident population are vibrant bar districts such as Lan Kwai Fong, non-Chinese. There are 128 foreign diplomatic representations in SoHo, Star Street Precinct and Kennedy Hong Kong. Town and, of course, Hong Kong’s many hotels. Chinese and English are ocial languages. English is widely used Wine and dine in the Government and by the With every kind of culinary oering from legal, professional and business around the world, Hong Kong is a reputed sectors. Almost all information food lover’s paradise. The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival oers in signs, announcements and gourmets a fabulous feast. More than 1,000 exhibitors from around government and business the world make use of the sparkling opportunities oered by the websites is also provided in Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, the region’s largest English. such event. Hong Kong, which levies no wine duty, is one of the world’s leading wine auction centres. 4 5 Celebrations A vibrant melting pot of cultures, Hong Kong boasts many Hong Kong celebrates Western and museums, concert halls and performance venues, and a vast array Eastern festivals with equal of cultural events from around the world. Hong Kong is the world’s enthusiasm. Christmas, Chinese New third-largest art market by auction sales, after New York and Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival London. are especially good times to see Asia’s glittering city in full splendour. Cultural hub Also popular are Western festivities Stretching across 40 hectares of harbourfront such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day land, the West Kowloon Cultural District is one of and Oktoberfest. Traditional festivals the largest cultural projects in the world. With a such as the Cheung Chau Jiao variety of performance spaces and museums, Festival (Bun Festival), Tai O Dragon the cultural quarter will produce and host Boat Water Parade, Tai Hang Fire world-class exhibitions, performances, and arts Dragon Dance and Yu Lan Ghost and cultural events. The rst performing arts Festival have been inscribed on the venue, Xiqu Centre, dedicated to the promotion National List of Intangible Cultural of Cantonese opera and other forms of Chinese Heritage. traditional theatre, will open in late 2018. The Art Park will open in stages from 2018, while Sensational shopping Freespace, situated at the centre of the Art Park, including a black box theatre and an outdoor stage, will open in At the crossroads of world trade for over 170 years, Hong Kong is a 2019. The building works of M+, a new museum of visual culture, great global emporium, with high-end malls selling the latest continues to move full steam ahead. The foundation works for the international brands to bustling night markets where you can nd Lyric Theatre Complex has substantially been completed. The delightful bargains. There are also Sneaker Street, Ladies Market, scheme design of the Hong Kong Palace Museum was also Goldsh Market and Flower Market, to name a few obeat completed and the foundation works will start soon. attractions. CNN ranked Hong Kong among the world’s best shopping cities. Arts festivals Throughout the year, a variety of Passion for fashion arts festivals manifest the diversity The world’s leading fashion brands do and vibrancy of Hong Kong’s business in Hong Kong. The city’s design cultural life. In 2018, the Hong Kong schools turn out plenty of talent. Hong Arts Festival featured over 1,700 top Kong fashion designers have won world international and local artists in 130 acclaim. The annual Hong Kong Fashion performances, encompassing opera, Week, one of the largest fashion events in music, theatre and dance. Other Asia, features talented designers from prominent events include the around the world. Chinese Opera Festival, International Arts Carnival, Le French May and, in alternate years, the New Vision Arts Festival and World 6 Cultures Festival. 7 Art marts The cosmopolitan city hosts a variety of international sporting The city hosts top-tier galleries and events throughout the year, from marathons and equestrian events auction houses such as the Gagosian, to rugby and regattas. International athletes compete in Hong White Cube, Christie’s and Sotheby’s. In Kong in a variety of sports, making the city the premier sports 2018, Art Basel Hong Kong attracted 248 venue in Asia. leading galleries from 32 countries and Sports spectacular territories across the world. The event helps Hong Kong to cement its place Hong Kong stages a number as the epicentre of Asia’s international of major annual sports or “M” art scene. More than 100 contemporary Mark events, such as the galleries from around the world Longines Masters of Hong showcased cutting-edge works Kong, CCB (Asia) Hong Kong by exciting new talent at Art International Dragon Boat Central. The Asia Contemporary Races, Prudential Hong Kong Art Show brings about 100 Tennis Open and UBS Hong galleries from Asia and Kong Open (golf). around the world twice a year. HK Marathon More than 70,000 runners took part in the 2018 Standard Chartered Fine museums Hong Kong Marathon, an IAAF Road Race Gold Label event. Hong Kong’s museums oer a variety of exhibitions from near and far, past and present. Major museums include the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Museum of History, Heritage Museum, Science Museum, Space Museum, Museum of Coastal Defence, Maritime Museum and Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. 8 9 Magnificent 7s Formula E Every year, thousands of Sleek electric cars raced on a Central Harbourfront track in the 2017 rugby fans from around the FIA Formula E Hong Kong E-Prix. The international E-racing season world descend on Hong opening event was a double-header, featuring 10 international Kong to experience the teams. excitement of the world's premier international rugby sevens tournament. In 2018, 28 teams battled for the coveted Hong Kong Sevens championships at the Hong Kong Stadium, in front of 120,000 spectators over the three days. Horse racing Horse races at Happy Valley and Sha Tin on Wednesday nights and weekends draw tens of thousands of fans during racing season. World Sixes Squads from six test cricket playing nations, England’s venerable MCC and the home team competed in cricket’s fastest format tournament when the Hong Kong World Sixes returned to the Volvo Ocean Race Kowloon Cricket Club in 2017. Hong Kong was a host city for the rst time in 2018 of this prestigious and grueling around- the-world race featuring identical 65-foot yachts battling it out on a 45,000 nautical mile course over an eight month period. The Hong Kong entry SHK/Scallywag, with Hong Kong’s branding as Asia’s world city displayed on the 65-foot ocean-going yacht, won the 5,600-nautical mile leg from Melbourne to Hong Kong in mid- 10 January.