NEWS Winter 2016 - 2017 Issued by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels Financial Secretary leads business delegation to Kazakhstan to explore Belt and Road opportunities. The Chief Executive, Mr CY Leung, meets with (Page 5) Prime Minister Manuel Valls in France. (Page 2) Opening of M+ Pavilion, the first completed venue of Hong Kong’s ambitious West Kowloon Cultural District. (Page 20) Chief Executive’s visit to France boosts aviation, innovation, technology and academic exchanges The Chief Executive with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Marc Ayrault. The Chief Executive (left) meets with Prime Minister Manuel Valls. --> At the Regional Council in Toulouse, from left: Mr Nicholas Yang, Mrs Carole Delga, Mr CY Leung, Prof. Anthony Cheung, and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Edward Yau. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Mr CY Leung, paid an Toulouse official visit to France on 7-10 June. Aviation, innovation, technology, and academic exchanges were the main With the expansion of Hong Kong International Airport themes of the visit. Mr Leung was accompanied by (HKIA) into a three-runway system now underway, Mr Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Leung saw potential synergy in view of Toulouse’s rich Cheung Bing-leung and Secretary for Innovation and experience in aerospace and aviation industries. Technology, Mr Nicholas Yang. He met the President of Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi- Mr Leung was also accompanied by 19 Hong Kong Pyrénées Region (renamed Occitanie since September), university student engineers studying aerospace, Mrs Carole Delga, to learn about the city’s latest mechanical engineering, electronic and communication developments in aviation, engineering, and innovation engineering. and technology (I&T). In Toulouse and Paris, the Chief Executive met with senior He addressed a business luncheon hosted by the Regional government officials, French businessmen and Hong Council to introduce Hong Kong as an international and Kong communities. He visited leading manufacturing regional hub in aviation and logistics. He shared with and training facilities relating to civil aviation, and guests Hong Kong’s latest developments in enhancing university and research institutes involved in advanced transport connectivity and services, including large- technology. scale infrastructure projects in the pipeline and the 2 HONG KONG NEWS Winter 2016 - 2017 development of high value-added services. He also Winter 2016 - 2017 highlighted Hong Kong’s efforts in promoting I&T, and Contents welcomed further co-operation between Hong Kong and France in this regard. Aside from hardware, Hong Kong is establishing a civil aviation academy to train aviation practitioners. After the luncheon the delegation visited the National School of Civil COVER Aviation ENAC to see how Europe’s largest aeronautical Chief Executive’s visit to France boosts aviation, innovation, technology and university nurtures tomorrow’s industry talents. academic exchanges 2 Financial Secretary promotes Belt and Road opportunities in Kazakhstan 5 Opening of M+, first venue of Hong Kong’s visionary art hub 20 HONG KONG AND EUROPE (1) Financial Secretary’s promotes Hong Kong in the Netherlands 6 Hong Kong Town Planning Board visits the Netherlands 6 Secretary for Transport’s visit to Greece, France and Spain 7 Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development’s visit to Spain 8 Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development’s visit to Ireland 9 Hong Kong and the EU hold annual meeting 9 Hong Kong ideal place to pursue further studies or career development 10 INNOVation AND TECHNOLOGY Bionic woman wins silver at first Cybathlon 10 PolyU’s railway monitoring technology in world first 11 Mr CY Leung (first right), Prof. Anthony Cheung (second right) and student DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG delegates visit the Human Machine Interface laboratory at the National School Development of fintech “a major priority” for the Government 11 of Civil Aviation (ENAC) in Toulouse. Construction of Hong Kong Airport’s three-runway system begins 12 International recognition of Hong Kong’s favourable business environment 12 The delegation also visited Airbus, which provides almost Number of start-ups surges 24% 14 60% of the aircraft operated by five Hong Kong airlines. Hong Kong commended on anti-corruption efforts 14 Mr Leung said he looked forward to more collaboration Hong Kong Disneyland to include “Frozen” and “Marvel Super Heroes” 15 on air services between Hong Kong and Airbus. Cathay Belt AND ROAD NEWS Pacific Airways had recently received its first A350 aircraft Hong Kong’s super-connector role promoted in Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Italy 16 from Airbus and 47 more were to come to join its fleet. Chief Executive chairs Belt and Road steering committee 16 Yvonne Choi appointed Commissioner for Belt and Road 16 HKMA launches Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO) 17 WINE Hong Kong promotes its position as Asia’s wine hub at Bordeaux Wine Festival 18 Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 19 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair 19 ProWine to be held in Hong Kong in May 2017 19 Art, CUltURE, FESTIVALS (1) Opening of M+, first venue of Hong Kong’s visionary art hub 20 Shifting Objectives showcases works from the M+ Design Collection 21 Jackie Chan receives honorary Oscar 21 HONG KONG AND EUROPE (2) During a visit to Airbus in Toulouse, Mr CY Leung exchanges views with the Senior SEU Academic Programme 2016-2017: sharing good practices in urban Vice-President, Head of A350 XWB Programme of Airbus, Mr Patrick Piedrafita. development 22 Hong Kong and EU students in joint e-Learning sustainability project 22 Mr Leung visited Oncopole, a leading cancer research Art, CUltURE, FESTIVALS (2) facility with 2 500 professionals from the academic, Talented Hong Kong musicians perform in Italy and Portugal 23 scientific, medical, technological, clinical and Hong Kong-Brussels performing and comics artists’ exchange 24 pharmaceutical sectors. Mr Leung said that the visit had Hong Kong films brought to audiences in Italy, Greece, Spain and France 24 provided valuable insights on the prevention and control Dragon Boat Festivals attract crowds in Antwerp and Dublin 26 of cancer. BACK COVER Launch of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect 28 Before departing for Paris, Mr Leung toured Toulouse Airport. He was impressed with the airport’s new initiatives to enhance its infrastructure. --> HONG KONG NEWS Winter 2016 - 2017 3 Paris In Paris, Mr Leung met with France’s Prime Minister, During a visit to Usine IO, an incubator for hardware Mr Manuel Valls. The two leaders discussed the strong prototyping, Mr Leung encouraged more French bilateral relationship between France and Hong Kong. companies to ride on Hong Kong’s fast-growing start-up Introducing Hong Kong’s combined advantages under ecosystem to launch their I&T businesses. “one country” and “two systems”, Mr Leung said that Hong Kong was a “super-connector” between China and the rest of the world. He looked forward to expanding ties with the French Government in various areas. Mr Leung also attended a luncheon hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr Jean-Marc Ayrault. Mr Leung said he was pleased to see a growing French presence in Hong Kong, and looked forward to enhancing co-operation on various fronts, including I&T, transportation, trade, professional services, education and culture. Mr CY Leung (first right) controls a drone at CentraleSupélec, a training and research centre in engineering sciences in the Paris-Saclay technology cluster. The Chief Executive delivered a speech at a luncheon with French businessmen hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Noting that Hong Kong was recently ranked the world’s most competitive economy, Mr Leung highlighted the city’s advantages, including free trade, the rule of law, a common use of English, an open and international society, as well as close connection The Chief Executive (first right) and the delegation visit the particle accelerator to the Mainland of China. He also outlined Hong Kong’s Synchrotron SOLEIL at the Plateau de Saclay. latest efforts in promoting I&T, and encouraged French enterprises to look to Hong Kong for business and Mr Leung went to the Plateau de Saclay to visit collaboration opportunities. CentraleSupélec, a key training and research centre in engineering sciences in the Paris-Saclay technology cluster. CentraleSupélec has already established academic and scientific research co-operation with Hong Kong universities. Mr CY Leung speaks at a luncheon hosted by HKETO, Brussels and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Paris. Mr Leung also met with the France-China Friendship In the front row, Mr CY Leung (third left), Mr Nicholas Yang (second left), the Group of the National Assembly, chaired by Mr Bruno Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU, Ms Leroux, before ending his visit to Paris with a reception Shirley Lam (first left) and student delegates are shown around Usine IO by Mr for Hong Kong people living in France to learn more Benjamin Carlu (fourth left). about their work and life. 4 HONG KONG NEWS Winter 2016 - 2017 At the reception, Mr CY Leung (right) chats with Mr Lam Chun-wing from Hong The Chief Executive attends a reception for Hong Kong people living in France. Kong, the first Chinese ballet dancer admitted to the Paris Opera Ballet. Financial Secretary