Some 400 guests attended a spring reception in Tokyo, Japan, today (February 8) organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.

     The Acting Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, updated the guests, who come from various sectors including the Japanese political and business circles, the academia, the media and community groups, on the latest developments of Hong Kong, and also shared with them the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's initiatives to embrace the enormous opportunities ahead, in particular those announced in the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address.

     She highlighted that the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and the Talents Service Unit would provide high-level steer and strategies to compete for businesses and talents to Hong Kong. A Dedicated Team for Attracting Businesses and Talents has also been set up under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) since December 2022 to proactively reach out to target enterprises and talents in Japan and encourage them to pursue expansion and growth in Hong Kong.

     On the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Japan, she noted that the Japanese business community in Hong Kong continued to form the largest group of overseas companies in 2022.

     "The continued commitment to and investment in Hong Kong by our Japanese friends is a strong endorsement for our competitive edges and positioning as well as our strategic roles and potentials. I very much look forward to the flourishing business and economic ties between Hong Kong and Japan and the further deepening of the overall bilateral relations on all fronts," she said.

     She added that the Chief Executive last Thursday launched a global "Hello Hong Kong" Campaign to welcome tourists, business travellers and investors from all over the world to visit Hong Kong, and 500 000 free air tickets will be given away globally. 

     "Looking ahead, we are all set and ready to relaunch Hong Kong on the global stage, and we open our arms to welcome people and companies to join our journey," she said.

     The spring reception was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), and supported by Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. To promote Hong Kong's arts and music talent, Hong Kong music group Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble was invited to perform at the reception.

Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Issued at HKT 21:00

NNNN